They can ask big questions, share their thoughts, and grow in their faith in ways that feel personal and exciting. Plus, they build awesome friendships and learn what it means to follow Jesus together. It’s where faith becomes real, and community comes to life!

Check out these awesome small group studies for kids and grab some resources for your ministry today!

The 13 Very Series: Small Group Studies Made Just for Kids

Leading children closer to Jesus can be challenging—even more so when you have a mix of ages in the same room! What do you do? The 13 Very series is here for you!

These easy-to-teach Bible lessons for a big range of ages are perfect for any children’s ministry opportunity. They are great for Sunday school, children’s church, small groups, and more! The 13 Very series is a must-have as you lead the next generation of God’s kingdom.

13 Very Amazing Animals and How God Used Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 amazing animals God created and how God used them. They will see how God used some thirsty camels, low-flying quail, a talking donkey, and more. Along the way, kids will be assured that God knows and loves them—and is ready to use them in big ways too!

Learn More

13 Very Awesome Promises and How God Always Keeps Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 very awesome promises God made and how He keeps them. They will see how God kept His word to people like Abram, David, Zechariah, and Elizabeth, and remember God’s promises when they’re afraid, lonely, sick, or in any tough situation. And along the way, kids will be encouraged to trust the God who has never broken a promise—and never will!

Learn More

13 Very Bad Days and How God Fixed Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 stories of people who had very bad days and how God fixed them. They will see God’s power at work in the lives of Noah, Daniel, Mary, Lazarus, Stephen, and others. And along the way, kids will discover that the same God of long ago watches over them—and can fix their bad days too!

Learn More

13 Very Big Mistakes People Made and What God Did about Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into the stories of 13 very big mistakes people made and what God did about them. They will see how Adam and Eve, Jonah, King Saul, and others stepped away from God and straight into big trouble. And along the way, kids will be challenged to never step away from God and will grow in their certainty that God loves them—no matter what!

Learn More

13 Very Cool Stories and Why Jesus Told Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 of Jesus’s very cool stories and why He told them. They will meet a lost and found son, a rich fool, disgruntled vineyard workers, a pretty good Samaritan, and many others. And along the way, kids will explore the eternal truths Jesus wrapped in those stories—and what those truths mean in their lives!

Learn More

13 Very Surprising Saying and Why Jesus Said Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing truths tucked into 13 of Jesus’s very surprising sayings and why He said them. They will begin to understand what it means to start fishing for people, love the meanies they know, why they would want to be last, and others. And along the way, kids will see that Jesus changes everything—for those who choose to follow Him!

Learn More

The entire 13 Very series is written by Mikal Keefer. He’s a trusted children’s ministry worker who created a towering stack of books and resources. Mikal loves inventing new ways to help kids engage with God’s big story.

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your Bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

Two or More: Small Church Curriculum for Kids

Looking for a children’s ministry curriculum that’s fun, flexible, and made for small groups of kids? Group’s Two or More is your new best friend! It’s perfect for churches with fewer kids or limited resources. And it’s made to work with mixed ages (think ages 3 to 12 all learning and growing together).

Whether you’ve got a handful of kids or a mini crowd, this curriculum brings big impact in a small group setting.

It’s simple to use, fun to teach, and helps kids grow closer to God—and each other!

Learn More

All Together Sunday School

Get ready to make Sundays awesome! Each All Together Sunday School book is packed with 13 fun, Bible-based lessons. Perfect for mixed-age groups (ages 4–12), every lesson is loaded with hands-on activities, easy-to-find supplies, and digital extras. You can teach with confidence and help kids dive into God’s Word with joy!

Learn More

David C Cook has so many great resources to offer. Check out more of our Ministry Spark recommended resources here.

Through intentionality, prayer, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, children’s ministry leaders and families, together, can lean into everyday moments as children come to know, love, and follow Jesus.

In this podcast series, INCM and David C Cook aim to equip children’s ministry leaders, volunteers, parents, and leaders involved in children’s lives to pass on a faith that grows in the everyday moments of life—big and small. Through conversations with children’s and family ministry leaders, curriculum developers, parents, and followers of Jesus, this six-episode series will speak to you as you follow Jesus and point children to Him.

Episode 1: Understanding Spiritual Formation

What is spiritual formation and why is it important? Simply put, spiritual formation is discipleship. It’s what we all signed up to do and why we’re doing what we’re doing. We want to see the next generation live out a vibrant faith throughout their lifetime.

To be intentional with spiritual formation, it’s imperative that we be authentic, trustworthy, and willing to get out of the way. We must create space for kids and families to encounter the living God.

Let’s ask: How are we going to teach in such a way that it transcends being limited a childhood belief system? And how can we help foster spiritual formation in the homes of the children and families we serve?

Episode 2: The Church’s Role in a Child’s Faith Formation

Christianity is now counter cultural in America. The wind is no longer at our backs. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If we have been lulled by fair weather, our faith can become stronger as we weather the changes in our cultural environment.

Considering this cultural shift, it’s wise to ask ourselves the following questions.  

How are we partnering with other areas of the church for ministry to children? Are we running church in essentially the same way we did twenty years ago?

Episode 3: Children’s Ministry’s Role in a Child’s Faith Formation 

Within the context of a healthy, whole-church approach to faith formation, children’s ministry plays an undeniably crucial role. 

In 2005, David Kinnaman, now president of Barna Group, summed up why: “Young people are spiritual sponges whose most impressionable years are too important to pass up.” His statement remains as true as ever.

As we continue our Faith Formation discussion, let’s ask the following questions. 

Are we resourcing children’s ministry in essentially the same way we did twenty years ago? Are we passing on traditions and programs, only to have lost a clear focus on the very faith they are meant to foster?

Episode 4: The Family’s Role in a Child’s Faith Formation

Hands down, parents are the greatest influencers of their children’s faith formation. If you’re a Christian parent reading this, you feel the gravity of your responsibility. You know the joy and exasperation, the awe and challenge of the parenting journey, and you deeply desire to see your son or daughter become the person God made them to be.

As we continue our Faith Formation discussion, let’s ask these questions: How are we encouraging, equipping, and partnering with families? How are we utilizing other ministries within the church to do the same? Are we resourcing families in essentially the same way we did twenty years ago?

Episode 5: Keeping the Gospel Central in Life and Ministry

With the constant push and pull of ministry life, it’s easy to become distant from the Gospel. It’s not an intentional move, or one we ever hope to make when entering ministry, but slowly over time we can become focused on lesser things.

Keeping the Gospel central keeps our hope alive. It ignites our faith in Christ and reassures us of His goodness. It is why we are in ministry to begin with. His Story pursues our own. Join us! Be encouraged in life and ministry.

Episode 6: Helping Kids Know Who They Were Created to Be

Children are inundated with messages every single day about their identity. It’s our job to help them to know what is always true—what God says is true. 

Because what kids believe about themselves influences their thoughts and decisions. 

Help kids discover their identity in God’s Big Story—where Jesus is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is present. We need to leave room for their big questions and big ideas while leaving no doubt about who God is or who they are in Him. 

Our kids are image-bearing children of God, and we can declare this truth over them!

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your Bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

13 Very Famous Friends and How Jesus Loved Them

Help kids discover the faith-building, life-changing love of Jesus tucked into 13 stories of Jesus’s famous friends and how He loved them. They will begin to understand what it means to love one another as Jesus did.

Download your bible lesson

Free Lesson

If you’ve ever done Vacation Bible School, you know what I mean.

Every year, the Group team gathers real kids to try out the activities in our upcoming three VBS programs. Yes, programs plural. So if you’re end-of-VBS tired, multiply that by three! Not only do we create the activities for each program, our small-but-mighty team decorates classrooms, shops for supplies, and leads the activities.

“But wouldn’t it be easier just to use AI to generate some fun games and Bible lessons, give them an edit, and send them to the printer?”

While I’m all for saving time and leaning on the creativity of others, three decades of ministry has shown me that we learn by doing. This truth applies to kids and adults. That’s why our team gets inky fingers, wipes runny noses, chases energetic kids, rounds up shopping carts overflowing with supplies, and wears out our step-counters every year in the name of VBS. Here’s why every Group VBS is created by—and tested with—humans.

1. The Holy Spirit Has a Say

Let’s just say it: AI is clever. It can give you a decent outline. But here’s what it can’t do:

• Pray for your kids.
• Discern the heart of a child.
• Know what’s age appropriate, culturally sensitive, or spiritually sound.
• Spot a safety issue before an activity goes sideways.
• Prayerfully seek what God might have in store.

We don’t just brainstorm themes—we pray through them. We don’t just plan games—we ask what God might reveal as kids play. Chat GPT doesn’t guide our Bible focus, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead the way. You might say we make room for divine detours. Sometimes, God gives inspiration as we worship, read Scripture, or talk with kids during VBS activities. Those ideas aren’t automated … and that’s a good thing.

2. Content and Ministry Aren’t the Same

AI can spit out a clever theme or catchy Bible lesson in seconds—that’s content. But AI can’t know the spiritual needs of specific kids. It doesn’t factor in kids who just lost a grandparent, or the child who’s never heard “Jesus loves you” in a way that feels real. AI may not identify “churchy” language that doesn’t make sense to kids. That’s ministry. And ministry comes from people.

Human-created content shines because it accounts for real, nitty-gritty, in-the-trenches reality. If you work with kids, you know that an AI engine can’t anticipate all the “creative” ways a kid can take an activity! (Many of our team members grew up as VBS kids … and their experiences continue to shape new programs!)

3. Testing Saves the Day

Our team has learned the hard way that if we don’t test an activity, there’s a good chance something’s going to fizzle … or explode. And not in the good way.

Testing lets you see:

• What confuses kids
• What doesn’t hold their interest
• What questions spark great discussion—and what doesn’t
• What needs more supplies or a time tweak
• What might not be safe for all kids or consider kids’ allergies
• What could totally backfire in a room of 50 excited kids
• When supplies should be handed out—or not

Plus, testing gives you a sneak peek at how meaningful a moment might be. Sometimes I’ve tested a simple object lesson and found myself tearing up—seeing how powerfully it lands with kids.

Our goal is to set leaders up for success and maximize every second kids spend at VBS. We make the mistakes so leaders don’t have to! (Check out these tips for making any VBS easier!)

4. Our Friends in Ministry Matter

We consider children’s ministry leaders as our friends in ministry. You’re our partners and teammates and we’re cheering you on every step of the way! So those exhausting field tests help us keep you in mind—your goals, creativity, challenges, and the kids you serve. That’s a heartfelt perspective that an AI engine can’t provide.

As we lead Bible adventures, we’re thinking of you and your kids. How will Jesus show up in this moment for you?

When we wipe runny noses, we remember your servant’s heart. What can we create that makes this moment meaningful for you?

During worship, we hear your voices raised in praise. Are we making room in this moment for the Holy Spirit?

We want to give you the very best. We want to give you something we stand by, have tried, and are excited to see in your church. So, we’ll keep doing the hard work to make sure you get the very best.

End-of-VBS tired is a great thing!

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

12 Awesome Bible Games for Kids of All Ages

Bible learning is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Choose from games for toddlers to preteens and help kids know that God loves them.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Here are some great ideas for this Mother’s Day!

Mother’s Day Craft Extravaganza

Praise the Lord for the blessing of mothers! Grab these crafts for celebrating moms and mother-figures alike.

Read More

Activities to Spark Joy for Mother’s Day

These super creative cards and crafts will make Mother’s Day special for every child in your care!

Read More

Easy Mother’s Day Crafts That Will Delight Kids (And Their Moms)

Send little ones home from church with a handmade gift mom will love!

Read More

For Those Struggling this Mother’s Day

Hard Questions and Answers from God’s Word

When we face difficult times and the questions that follow, we can hold tight to God and His promises. Read More >

A Devotion for Kids: Why Hard Times Help Us Grow

This devotion will help kids understand that the trials they face today can help them in the future. Read More >

More Ideas for Loving Parents in Your Ministry

How Ministering to Parents Ministers to Kids

If you minister to, pray for, encourage and invest in the parents in your ministry, kids will benefit in everyday moments. This article by ministry leader, Kristi McEleheny, gives you 4 steps to walk alongside parents. Read More >

Faith Formation: Helping Parents Walk with Kids

Walk alongside parents as you encourage them in making togetherness a priority, talking with their kids about faith, and living it out. This article, transcribed from our webinar: Our Role in the Faith Formation of Children: Parents and Families, will help you support parents in ministry. Read More >

Thoughtful Leadership Tools to Equip Parents for Ministry at Home

Parents play an important role in the development of their children’s faith and as leaders, it’s important to equip them. Children’s ministry leader, Catherine Hwang, shares tools to strategize and maximize your ministry to parents. Read More >

How to Become a Spiritual Parent: Beyond Managing Behavior

Dr. Michelle Anthony shares how the role of parent is deeper than controlling children’s behavior. This article lists ways to lead your children as a spiritual parent. Read More>

How to Love Your Ministry with Littles and Their Parents

Our littlest ones grow fast, so grasp the opportunity to minister to these families while you have it. Hear from leader Nancy de Jong as she shares a philosophy of ministering to the youngest of children and their families. Read More >

Ready to help parents create an environment for spiritual growth?

Get ready to help families with their most important task, in our guide from Ministry Spark: 7 Ways to Encourage Today’s Parents as Spiritual Influencers at Home.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Ready to help parents create an environment for spiritual growth?

Get ready to help families with their most important task, in our guide from Ministry Spark: 7 Ways to Encourage Today’s Parents as Spiritual Influencers at Home.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Ready to help parents create an environment for spiritual growth?

Get ready to help families with their most important task, in our guide from Ministry Spark: 7 Ways to Encourage Today’s Parents as Spiritual Influencers at Home.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Friends, I say this with all compassion: Some relationship issues simply will not be resolved.

“I do not understand how we got here.” My confused voice was calm as I spoke to the leader over the phone. “I’m not sure how it has come to this, but I want to understand. Can you help me?”

“Mel,” the leader replied, anger evident in his voice, “If you do not understand, I cannot help you.”

“I’m sorry. I feel like there must have been some miscommunication along the way because this isn’t adding up. Can we back up and look at it again? Hello?” I suddenly realized I was speaking into dead air. A leader I had worked closely with for two years and who I deeply respected had just hung up on me.

I slumped onto my couch as tears ran down my face.

The Reality of Ministry Leadership

Leading in ministry is often filled with deep joy. In the best of times, it draws us closer to Jesus as we partner with Him, filling our hearts with a profound sense of fulfillment. But because we work with people, it can also be fraught with relational strife and confusion. At times, a fellow staff member, parent, or volunteer may become distant or even angry with us.

We may not understand why, or worse, we may fully understand but find them unwilling to move forward.

When we’re hurt, it is easy to get caught up in the pain—replaying conversations, analyzing words, and feeling the sting of rejection repeatedly. But I think we can all agree that rarely accomplishes anything. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to carry the weight of unresolved relationships alone.

Friends, I say this with all compassion: Some relationship issues simply will not be resolved. I know that doesn’t feel good, and I know the frustration that comes with it. There are times we must move on and work toward healing even when the issue hasn’t been resolved.

Healing When Reconciliation Isn’t Possible

Healing doesn’t always mean restored relationships, but it does mean restored hearts. God can do deep healing within us even when reconciliation isn’t possible. When reconciliation isn’t in our hands, we are not helpless. We serve a big God who invites us to come to Him.

1. Give Your Pain and Frustration to God

“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” —Psalm 55:22 (NLT)

God invites us to bring our pain and confusion to Him. We are loved by a God who always welcomes us and delights in hearing from us. Go to Him with your sadness, anger, and frustration, and let Him carry it. Personally, I often journal everything out and then give it over to God. Take it to Him, friends.

2. Choose to Forgive

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

You may never be asked for forgiveness by the person who hurt you, but you can still forgive. Forgiveness does not mean what happened was okay or didn’t hurt. Forgiveness does release you from resentment. I have found forgiveness to be an ongoing, intentional act. As the pain resurfaces, I give it back over to God and choose to forgive again. And sometimes, I do it all again the very next day.

3. Remind Yourself That God Knows

“The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good.” —Proverbs 15:3 (NLT)

God sees the hurt you have endured. He is not blind to injustice. He sees and knows. It is His job to bring justice, not yours. You are not alone.

Self-Reflection for Growth

I firmly believe I am not perfect and do not always handle things well. With that in mind, I try to be quick to self-reflect when relationships or situations turn sour. I seek guidance from trusted mentors and ask myself these key questions:

1. What part of this should I own?
   I have yet to experience a situation where I was completely blameless. Even in situations where I had done very little wrong, I have always found something to own.
   
2. What can I learn from this?
   Ideally, I am growing as a leader and follower of Jesus. When situations are particularly difficult, I often come to a deeper understanding of how the Holy Spirit works. I always have something to learn.
   
3. What should I do?
   Should I apologize? Set up a meeting? Write a letter? Be silent? I want to ensure I am leaving space for reconciliation because it does indeed take two. What, if anything, do I need to do?
   
4. Am I holding onto things I need to let go of?
   This is perhaps the hardest question. For me, the answer is almost always yes. I want to believe people are good, kind, and fair, but just because I wish it does not make it so. That does not mean I should carry wrongs or sins that are not mine to own.

Trusting God with the Outcome

This topic is far deeper than a simple blog post. Hurtful situations where reconciliation is not possible are incredibly painful. I have spent significant time in therapy processing many of these experiences. In fact, the man I mentioned at the beginning of this article was a dear friend. I wanted him to remain a dear and trusted friend, but unfortunately, he chose to believe a lie about me. Instead of talking to me, he made his own decisions and refused to have a conversation. To this day, our relationship remains broken.

I have ached over it, cried about it, and wrestled with confusion, but I have finally released it. None of it has been easy, but I love Jesus even more because of walking through it with Him. God never wastes our pain, and He is always at work. I cling to the truth of who Jesus is and keep moving forward. I would rather be in the center of God’s will, doing ministry, than be bitter and angry.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” —Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

Find deep soul rest in Him today.

More Encouragement from Melissa J. MacDonald

• How to Create Space for Kids to Lead
• Ministry Leader, God Was Made for This—Trust Him
• Serving People When They’re Hard to Love
• 5 Things to Remember When Ministry Gets Hard
• When Kids Walk Away from Their Faith
• Created for Wonder: How to Recapture Wonder in Your Life
• Spiritual Formation in the Church, Home, and Community
• How to Welcome Families and Engage Kids in Big Church
• Take a New Grip: Encouragement for Children’s Ministers
• The Importance of Faith Formation in Your Volunteers

Caring for Your Soul as a Ministry Leader

You may have one of the most responsible and influential roles in the church. Most times, you’re thankful. But there are other times your body is exhausted and your spirit lonely. If YOUR soul is weary, start here.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Caring for Your Soul as a Ministry Leader

You may have one of the most responsible and influential roles in the church. Most times, you’re thankful. But there are other times your body is exhausted and your spirit lonely. If YOUR soul is weary, start here.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Caring for Your Soul as a Ministry Leader

You may have one of the most responsible and influential roles in the church. Most times, you’re thankful. But there are other times your body is exhausted and your spirit lonely. If YOUR soul is weary, start here.

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Stay curious about how they’re doing and how they feel in their role. Ask lots of questions and get their feedback. Communicate with them clearly and often—be intentional to invite their feedback to show appreciation and celebrate them. Grow with them.

Expect them to have ideas and care deeply about the ministry. Pray together and praise together when prayers are answered and show your appreciation.

Part of caring for your volunteer team is knowing how each person likes to receive appreciation. You can show appreciation in any number of ways—from a simple thank you note or an occasional treat, like a cup of coffee or a favorite snack to public recognition or a special picture from kids in your ministry.

Appreciating and Empowering You Team

You don’t have to do something big or fancy to show volunteers how much you appreciate them. There are lots of great and simple ways to show gratitude and remind your team of the impact they’re having on kids’ lives in the kingdom. Empower your team to build the team.

Encourage your current team members to personally invite people they know to serve in the children’s ministry. Make it easy for them. Give them a script or a simple card they can give to others. People are more likely to serve when they get to share the experience with friends.

Request formal feedback. It’s important to check in with new team members often, but it’s also important to get formal feedback from them within the first 90 days. Be sure to schedule an evaluation with every volunteer annually.

Use these 90-Day Volunteer Evaluation and Annual Volunteer Survey templates to check in with your volunteers. Ask specific questions to get their input on things they’re curious about and get feedback on how they’re feeling about serving in children’s ministry.

How to Use the Volunteer Check-In and Survey for Feedback

After the four (or more!) weeks of hands-on training your new volunteer completes, place the volunteer in their role, and set a reminder for yourself or a leader to follow up with them within 90 days of their start date. Use the 90-Day Volunteer Check-In and Annual Volunteer Survey to check in and get feedback about how they’re feeling about serving.

Ask if they want to try other roles. Give them positive and helpful feedback. Give them more responsibility if they’re ready for it.

The survey for your volunteers can be a written survey (printed or emailed), or it can be a guide for a one-on-one conversation (write down their answers, so you don’t forget!).

You can also use this survey with all regular volunteers annually to find out how they’re feeling about their volunteer role. And it helps as you take time to evaluate your ministry by looking at what’s working and what isn’t.

Remember to customize this resource, so it fits your ministry.

Volunteer Feedback: 90-Day Volunteer Check-In

Volunteer Name:
Role:
Start Date:
90-Day Follow-Up Date:
Name of Trainer:
Ministry Area:

Questions:

• What do you like about the role in which you’re currently serving?
  
• What questions do you have?
  
• How connected do you feel to the rest of the volunteer team?
  
• What do you wish was different about the role you’re serving in?
  
• What can we do to make your experience or this ministry area even better?
  
• Is there any other ministry area or role you’d be interested in trying?
  
• Have you experienced any memorial “God moments” while serving, including seeing God at work in kids’ lives?
  
• Are you happy with the frequency of the times you’re serving? Would you be interested in serving more or less often?
  

Volunteer Feedback: Annual Volunteer Survey

Name:
Date:
Ministry Area & Role:

Questions:

• What do you like about the role in which you’re currently serving?
  
• How connected to the rest of the volunteer team do you feel?
  
• What do you wish was different about the role you’re in or the ministry program?
  
• What can we do to make this ministry area even better?
  
• Is there any other ministry area or role you’d be interested in trying?
  
• Have you experienced any memorable “God moments” while serving, including seeing God at work in the kids’ lives?
  
• Are you happy with the frequency of the times you’re serving? Would you be interested in serving more or less often?
  
• How easy is the curriculum to use, and how effective do you feel it is for teaching the kids?
  
• How engaged are the kids in the service?
  

Like these ideas? Check out David C Cook’s Volunteer Onboarding Kit and get more resources just like this one!

Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families

Ministry coach Byron Ragains empowers you minister TO your volunteers, not just through them. It’s a game changer!

Download free guide

Free Guide

Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families

Ministry coach Byron Ragains empowers you minister TO your volunteers, not just through them. It’s a game changer!

Download free guide

Free Guide

Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families

Ministry coach Byron Ragains empowers you minister TO your volunteers, not just through them. It’s a game changer!

Download free guide

Free Guide

You can see this scene in your head. You have done everything on your service order; you gave the small group leader more time and extended the prayer request time as long as possible. Every child has prayed for their dog and their grandma. The children are restless and hungry; if you don’t do something soon, they will do something!

This toolbox is a mental and physical resource that offers pre-planned activities to extend your service with fun and engagement. There will come a time when you’ll need this toolbox of no-prep activities. And having these ideas will be a game-changer so you don’t have to rely on goldfish and a prayer.

10 No-Prep Children’s Ministry Activities

1. Snacks

I know I just joked about goldfish, but if you are serving young kids, and it is getting close to lunch, a simple snack might be needed. Make sure you let parents know that snacks could be an option, but sometimes carbs just have to be your go to.

2. Worship

A great way to extend your service is with extra worship. Reserve a few extra fun songs with lots of motions and actions for just this time. High-energy songs are a great way for kids to get the wiggles out while they wait.

3. Bible Time

This is an oldie but goodie no-prep activity. Sword drills have been done for ages but saving them for special occasions definitely makes them more of a goodie than an oldie. Have children hold their Bibles. Call out a passage of Scripture—the first child to find it wins. The real win is that you are teaching Bible study skills while having fun!

4. Books of the Bible

This is a fun game for older children. Line up the kids in two lines. Say a letter and see who can name a book of the Bible that starts with that letter. If they get it right, they go to the back of their line and keep going. If they don’t, they are out. The line that empties first loses.

5. Dance Freeze

This is a super-fun-no-prep activity for younger children to have extra worship time and get their wiggles out. Play a worship song and encourage them to dance. When the song pauses, have them freeze. When they freeze, you can use it as a moment to share the big idea from the lesson. Then play again and again! This is an easy way to get kiddos to soak in worship music without even realizing it.

6. Limbo

This is a worship game you can play with older children. Play worship songs and let the children Limbo. While they go as low as they can, they will also learn worship songs that they might sing on repeat at school next week

7. Art Time

If you want to extend your small group time, use art. Lay out plain paper, crayons, colored pencils, and markers. Ask younger children to draw a picture of the Bible story and ask older children to make a comic strip showing their favorite part of the story.

8. Trivia

This can be done in a large group or small group. Every week when you prep the curriculum, add a few trivia questions that a small group leader or stage speaker can ask if the service is running long. Make it super fun by giving the children noise makers, buzzers, party horns, or clapping hands to help them chime in with the answer.

9. Prayer Stations

This is for when you know the service is not over, but transitioning to a fun activity would not be appropriate. This is great for children who understand the power of prayer. You can easily set up different stations.

The first station is for a prayer of thanks, which can be done by writing on a small index card and putting it in a gift bag or box. The next station is a prayer for someone else. Children can write someone’s name on a sticky note and post it on a wall or window.

The last station can be a prayer for themselves. Children can use whiteboard markers to write their name on a full-length mirror. Having these few supplies ready and available for when the Spirit is moving makes it easy to have this in your toolbox.

10. Games

Structured games are a key tool in your no-prep activities toolbox. Whether it’s Four Corners, Keepy Uppy, Rock Paper Scissors, Charades, Cup Stacker, or another children’s favorite, having a back-up plan in place ensures fun is structured.

Regardless of what you include in your toolbox, the key is to be prepared. It’s not a matter of if but when a service is going to run long. No matter how fantastic your service was, what a parent sees at pick-up is what they believe represents the entire service. This is why a structured moment, even an unplanned one, is the best approach. By being prepared, you can take control of the situation and ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.

Don’t let unplanned time be wasted time. We are accountable for how we spend our time, and while we may not be able to control the service length, we can control what we do with the time we have.

By infusing joy and excitement into these activities, we can keep children engaged and make the service a memorable and enjoyable experience for them.

Have fun, build skills, worship in new ways, pray in unexpected moments, and indulge in some animal crackers. It’s all holy, and it is as important as whatever is going on and on and on and on in the adult service.

More Awesome Activities for Your KidMin

• 13 Creative Bible Verse Memory Games and Activities for Kids
• 49 Brilliant Easter Games, Crafts, and Activities for Sunday School
• 10 Commandments Activities Free to Download
• Simple Noah’s Ark Crafts and Activities You Can Download for Free
• St. Patrick’s Day and Kidmin: Fantastic Free Activities
• Awesome Palm Sunday Activities for Kids and Families
• Celebrating Jesus: Good Friday Activities for Kids and Families
• Activities to Spark Joy for Mother’s Day
• Over 100 Christmas Activities for Your Children’s Ministry
• Free Children’s Ministry Easter Activities
• 13+ Children’s Ministry Bible Games that Spark Joy
• 36 Thanksgiving Games, Crafts, and Snacks to Delight Kids
• Father’s Day Service Bonanza: Crafts Fit for Dad
• Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts for Your Kids’ Ministry

Easter is my absolute favorite. And I think it’s because it’s had the most impact on my spiritual walk—from Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday.

And what I have found to be the most important way of posturing myself to help kids talk to and listen to God is to experience something. Spiritual practices or disciplines help believers to be intentional in their time with God.

What are spiritual practices?

When you hear the words ‘spiritual practices,’ what do you think of? In Adel Calhoun’s book, The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, she describes spiritual practices as, “A place where we begin to notice God and respond to His word to us simply to keep company with God.”

Spiritual practice, simply put, is time spent with God. It’s time spent with God in an intentional, yet Spirit-led way. It’s not a program, it’s a practice. It’s something you’re invited in to. We’re simply meant to set the table for kids to keep company with God.

How are we making space for kids?

The word contemplation or contemplative comes up quickly when thinking about spiritual practices. But instead of thinking kids simply are quiet, it means they are having a prolonged thought.  

I like to remind myself that it’s more about slowing down, not about complete silence. It’s all about helping kids notice God and providing space so they can. That means physical space and space of time to slow down.

Why are these practices or disciplines important?

Well, a dear friend of mine told me about metaphor that her spiritual director used to help explain the importance of intentional spiritual practices. And this is what she said. “So, the Christian life is like being on a boat in a river. When we choose to walk with Jesus and accept Him as a leader in our lives, we step into the boat. So we’re in the boat and because of the Holy Spirit in us, and while God’s amazing grace, the river’s current carries the boat down the river. So we’re moving, but we can do more than passively ride the current. We can put up the sail and the Spirit’s wind will carry us farther and more swiftly. Engaging in spiritual practices is like putting up the sail.”

When we participate in spiritual practices, we keep company with Jesus through intentional habits and practices, and we submit to the Holy Spirit to power our journey.

Spiritual practices are a way for us to slowdown so we can join God how and where and when and why He wants us to journey.

What does it look like to make space for spiritual practices or disciplines?

Physical Space and Time

Making physical space and time leads to slowing down. In this space and time, we’re going to engage wonder and curiosity by allowing kids to use their creativity—their imaginations. We aren’t going to tell them what they must do—we’re going to ask questions that invite them to explore for themselves. 

We believe there is no junior Holy Spirit. God can speak to our children here and now where they are.

Set the atmosphere that allows them to listen for God.

Plan, But Program Minimally

Make a simple plan. You might want to include Scripture, images, music (whatever you’re using to engage their imaginations), and questions. Give space for kids to answer and explore and follow where the Lord leads.

We’re in the season of Lent, when we set aside time to pray, fast, and give. It’s the time leading up to Easter where we prepare our hearts for what Jesus has done. That is what the posture part of this is. How are we preparing ourselves? What might the season look like for the ministry you lead? It’s about setting aside time to be with God. How will you intentionally set aside time for kids to be with God?

Invitations to Respond

I’m following a Creative Companion for Lent. One of the quotes from yesterday hit me. “Lent is a time to acknowledge those things that take our attention away from God.”

Now, I’ve heard that before. That wasn’t something brand new to me, but it took on new meaning yesterday when I was reading that and thinking, “What are the things taking my attention away?” And so I thought about that, and I prayed about that and I said, “God, what is it that I need to fast from? What are the things that are taking me away from you?”

What is taking your attention away? And what could you replace it with? Maybe something from today will be something that you can try over the season of Lent for yourself or for the kids in your ministry. Maybe you’re in a church that doesn’t observe lent in a traditional fashion. That doesn’t mean we can’t all be preparing our hearts for Easter, right? We’re preparing to celebrate the resurrection.

I want you to also remember that it’s not about what is being produced, it is about the space that you’re providing for response.

The invitation to respond is the time we provide our kids is to spend time in God’s presence. That’s what it’s about.

How do I do this?

Help kids know God and respond to Him. That’s the focus. That is your benchmark. But how?

Choose things that kids already connect with. The kids in my ministry love talking about Legos, Minecraft, and Fortnite. And I will engage with them using those ideas and ask them to draw what they would hope God would see about their character. Would you create what you would look like as a character from _______ and tell me what God would see in you?

They then create these characters, and they tell me about them.

I would want God to see how much I care for people.

We have also used Legos to create prayer walls. We build our wall, and then we write on the Legos with dry erase markers so we can reuse the Legos. You could draw on them and write prayers.

Making spaces for kids to connect with God takes some trial and error. Okay? What works well for one child, doesn’t always work for another. Some other ideas you can try include the following:

(Watch the webinar for how-tos and ideas for each of these things.)

• Silence
• Reading Scripture
• Drawing Prayer
• Playdough Creations
• Breath Prayers (Breathing in and breathing out God’s truth, God’s Word)
• Movement Prayer/Prayer Stations
• Journaling
• Wondering Time
• Art Reflections
• Sensory Prayer Bins
• Poetry
• Sacred Play

Let’s proclaim to the world that children are followers of Jesus.

One Sunday we did paper airplane prayers. Everybody all ages wrote prayers. Then they folded their prayers into paper airplanes and launched them into our gathering space. After the prayer planes flew, each person went and got someone else’s paper airplane and took it home with them to pray that week for the prayer that was on that paper airplane.

Was it chaotic? Yeah. Was it worth it? 100% because we engaged in godly play in a new way.

So, if you have kids who make paper airplanes every week, turn it into a prayer practice. It’s so fun, and it’ll change your perspective.

There are so many things we can do like this that invite kids in through things they enjoy as they experience God.

How might you start? What ideas from today could be the beginning for you to incorporate spiritual practices in your children’s ministry? What could be something to help prepare the hearts of your kids and your volunteers for Easter?

For more Easter ideas, check out this article!

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

Easter is the precise moment when a promise God made centuries earlier was fulfilled. When any and all doubts about Jesus were answered by an empty tomb. When death literally died.

So why—for many of us—does Easter feel sort of… ho hum?

Yes, we celebrate, but Easter doesn’t get nearly the hoopla and fanfare we give Christmas. Not at church … not at home … and not in our hearts.  Apart from a basket of chocolate and a few stray eggs that roll under the couch, it usually slips by with a shrug.

Maybe it’s that Easter involves death, and Christmas is all about life? That and it’s far easier to snuggle up to baby Jesus than hanging-on-the-cross Jesus.

But here’s the thing: The Apostle Paul tells us Jesus asked us to remember and celebrate His death (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Not once does Jesus suggest we throw Him an annual birthday bash.

So, let’s approach Easter differently this year. Instead of giving Easter a respectful nod, let’s pause, see it clearly, and embrace it fully. Let’s let it drill down through our busy-ness and traditions and truly connect with Easter.

Do that, and you won’t mind someone else nibbling the ears off your chocolate bunny.

Ideas for Approaching Easter

Visit a Cemetery

Some years ago, I took my young children to our local cemetery early on Easter morning. Tombstones there date back to the late 1800’s which, to my kids, was ancient history. I told them I’d give the first child who found Jesus’ headstone a dollar, so off they tore on a desperate hunt.

Half an hour later, they returned with the news they couldn’t find it … which gave me the perfect opportunity to tell them they’d never find it because Jesus wasn’t dead. He’s alive!

You may or may not have young kids in your care, but a thoughtful stroll through a cemetery will remind you too: He’s alive. Jesus is alive.

Launch a Gratitude Journal

More than one study has found that writing down what prompts gratitude in your life is good for your mental health … and it is.

But it’s also good for your spiritual health.

Find a fresh piece of paper and a pen and write “Easter” at the top of the page. Then consider: Is Easter something for which you’re truly grateful? If not, why not? If so, why? What does Jesus rising from the dead mean in your life?

Write and keep writing.  

Create a Sacred Space

Whether it’s for a day or an hour, find time to unplug. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb.” Ignore emails and texts. Turn off your computer.

Sit in a comfortable chair, read Luke 23-24:7, and ask God why what you just read matters. Then—listen. You’ll be stunned by what the Holy Spirit will whisper to you when you’re listening.

Read Luke 23-24:7 Aloud

Too often we mentally skip through familiar passages. We’ve heard it before and know what’s coming, so we don’t really focus.

But when you read aloud you slow down, you can see and taste each word. Stuff sinks in.

Let Luke help you experience Easter in a new way.

Respond to Easter

Write a poem or piece of music. Paint or sketch. Dance. Sing. Sculpt something. Create a collage.

However you express yourself, turn your attention to Easter and respond to what Jesus did. Don’t worry if your clay sculpture looks like a second-grade art project. This is between God and you, and God works with cracked vessels and imperfect pots all day long.

Your response is worship; God will receive and honor it.

And you’ll experience Easter in a deeper way.

Seek Out a Passion Play

Since the 1600’s the townspeople in Oberammergau, Germany, have put on a play telling the story of Jesus and Easter. It’s only staged every decade, tickets sell out years in advance, and it’s in Germany—so that play probably won’t work out. But local churches sometimes stage less grandiose versions of the passion play. And seeing a bunch of kids in borrowed bathrobes share the story can bring you to tears.

Do whatever you can to let Easter touch your emotions as well as your thoughts—and cute kids in a play can do the trick.  

Do Lent—Even If You Don’t Do Lent

Lent is a tradition that isn’t universally practiced—but that doesn’t have to stop you.

The purpose of the 40-day Lenten season is to ready Christians to meet Easter through repentance, prayer, and a degree of self-discipline. It begins with Ash Wednesday.

I find all three either intimidating or challenging, so last Easter I decided to organize my own Lent … and it was powerful. I added specific, regular prayer to my schedule. And I stopped to consider who I’d wronged and reached out to a few people to ask their forgiveness and if my wrongs had hurt them. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case, but the asking brought us closer.

And I fasted. Not for 40 days, thank you, but for two … and that was enough. My mind cleared, and I could look at Easter through eyes that appreciated Jesus’ suffering—and victory.

Watch the JESUS movie

You’ll find this account of Jesus’ life online and on TV during the Easter season. It includes what happens at Easter in the larger context of Jesus’ life on earth.

This is a powerful film, so no fast-forwarding.

Watch prayerfully. Before the film starts, ask God to help you see Him in what’s coming, to help you lean into responding to His love shown on the cross.

Craft a Cross Out of Found Objects

There’s no Easter without the cross, so make one to hang on your door. Sticks, twine, recycled plastic straws, and rubber bands—they all work.

Walk your neighborhood looking for supplies. Invite Jesus to walk with you and have a chat with Him as you go. Pray for the people who live in the houses you pass. Tell Him why you need Him. Ask for forgiveness.

Then, once you’ve gathered supplies, make the cross as you consider what it was like for Jesus on the one He dragged to the Place of the Skull.

Let that break your heart. It will let Easter in.

Find a Rock That Speaks to You

We know, we know: Rocks don’t talk. But in the same way there’s no Easter without a cross, there’s no Easter without a stone rolled away from a tomb.

Put your rock where you’ll see it all through the Easter season. When you see it, thank God for Easter the life you find in the shadow of that empty tomb.

Mikal Keefer is a children’s ministry volunteer in Loveland, Colorado, the author of the bestselling Notes From Jesus, and should you be filling his Easter basket he wants you to know he hates jelly beans.

For more ideas this Easter, check out the articles here.

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

For kids, this can be a whirlwind of a season as well. But it’s so important that they know Jesus came and took on our sin and shame so that we might live. It’s a great time for them to see the story of the good news and how following Jesus holds the hope of life with Him forever.

Below are some ideas for what to do on Easter Sunday. We hope they help you as you share the good news with children in your church and community.

Children’s Easter Activities for Easter Sunday

Lessons and Resources

Jesus Is Alive! Easter Sunday (Preschool and Elementary Lesson)
Be prepared for the most highly attended church weekend with this Easter lesson.

Easter Kits: Lessons and Events

Celebrate Easter with a Series and Event by Wonder Ink
Celebrate Easter with a Seder Passover Meal Event. Plus get an Easter lesson series for your children’s ministry.

Starting Easter at the Exodus: Freedom Is Always God’s Way
Join this wonder-filled journey from Exodus to Easter and recognize the power of remembrance.

Celebrating Easter in Reverse with Kids and Families
Discover just how Easter begins long before Palm Sunday. You’ll want to jump right in!

Activities, Crafts, and Games

49 Brilliant Easter Games, Crafts, and Activities for Sunday School
Whether you’ve got 5 kids or 500, we’ve got you covered.

Free Children’s Ministry Easter Activities
Christ is worthy of our celebration! A fantastic way to celebrate Easter together as a kids’ ministry is through crafts and activities.

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages
Come along on the journey through Jesus’ life to the joy of Easter morning. These storytelling coloring pages are a wonderful way to discover Jesus as our Rescuer, Redeemer, and Friend.

8 Downloadable Easter Sunday Activities
Wondering what to do this Easter Sunday? Get this guide and give families multiple activities that are ready to go.

16 Easter Crafts and Games for Your Children’s Ministry
These crafts and games intentionally share the love of Christ. Share the joy found in our risen Savior!

Exploring the Wonder of God Through Creative Activities at Eastertime
If you’re searching for a list of Easter activities to engage the children in your program, this article is for you!

Free Printable Children’s Ministry Coloring Sheets
Check out these fun, free printable coloring sheets and remind children of who God is and who they are in Him!

8 Downloadable Easter Sunday Activities

Wondering what to do this Easter Sunday? Get this guide and have multiple activities ready to go! Choose from coloring pages, crafts, puzzles, games, and science experiments. Let’s celebrate the risen King!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

8 Downloadable Easter Sunday Activities

Wondering what to do this Easter Sunday? Get this guide and have multiple activities ready to go! Choose from coloring pages, crafts, puzzles, games, and science experiments. Let’s celebrate the risen King!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

8 Downloadable Easter Sunday Activities

Wondering what to do this Easter Sunday? Get this guide and have multiple activities ready to go! Choose from coloring pages, crafts, puzzles, games, and science experiments. Let’s celebrate the risen King!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Preparing for Easter

Webinars

Beholding Our Creator as We Prepare for Easter
Watch this to deepen your experience with God and move from a transactional relationship to a transformational friendship as we behold Him this Easter.

Preparing the Way for Easter: Ideas for Posturing Your Heart and Ministry Toward Jesus
Experience ways to spend time with God and walk away with practical activities and approaches to engage the kids (and volunteers and families) in your ministries.

Leadership and Encouragement

How to Prepare Yourself and Your Ministry for Easter
How can you prepare your heart for Easter? Are there ways to get your ministry ready and alleviate some of the pressure? Yes!

Dream with Me and Create an Easter Event Celebrating New Life
Come and dream along for a new vision of Easter celebrations for your church community!

Ash Wednesday: How to Participate with Kids
Ash Wednesday is an important reminder of why Jesus died on the cross. Here are a few special activities for kids!

Why Ash Wednesday Is So Powerful: The Bad and The Good News
Ash Wednesday is a hands-on experience. We feel and see the ashes traced on our foreheads. It stands as a marker on our spiritual journey.

Lent: Should You Give Things Up, Add Things In, or Both?
Is there a right way to observe Lent? This is a personal decision. In order to make that decision, we need to first understand the purpose behind Lent.

How to Teach Kids About Judas’ Life
Even our most confusing, hurtful, sinful actions can be used by God.

Lessons and Activities for Kids

40 Stories about Jesus That Will Be Your New Easter Tradition
Help children understand who Jesus is, what He did, and why His death and resurrection matter to us today!

Awesome Palm Sunday Activities for Kids and Families
Help kids prepare for the Easter story with these Palm Sunday crafts!

Hail to the King! Palm Sunday (Preschool and Elementary Lesson)
Palm Sunday can be big fun for the kids in your ministry with this free lesson!

Meet an Amazing Animal in the Story of the Triumphal Entry (Preschool and Elementary Lesson)
Use this grab-and-go lesson to bring Jesus’s triumphal entry on Palm Sunday to life.

The Last Supper (Preschool and Elementary Lesson)
These activities and games help the story of The Last Supper come alive!

Jesus Dies (Good Friday Preschool and Elementary Lesson)
Share the good news that Jesus took our sins with Him to the cross.

Celebrating Jesus: Good Friday Activities for Kids and Families
Help kids honor Jesus’ sacrifice with these Good Friday crafts.

So grab your calendar and a pencil (because we never plan in pen), and follow these steps to planning your ministry year.

Planning Your Ministry Year

Start with the big picture. 

Spend time reflecting on your ministry’s vision and keep it front and center as you set goals for the year. Our goals give us the direction and boundaries for our calendar. Write down all the big, important, we-do-them-every-year, this-isn’t-going-to-change-unless-the-rapture-happens dates first (Easter, Christmas, church-wide events) so you can plan around those.

These are the tent poles or milestones of each year that act as foundational markers throughout the year. These events act as anchors for the rest of your calendar.

Also make note of the seasons of busy-ness for your families so you can be mindful of events during those seasons. As much as we’d love it if the families in our church only had our events on their calendar, the reality is they have commitments (a lot of them) outside of our ministries. The families in my ministry asked for no extra events past the first weekend of December until after Christmas and from the beginning of May until after school gets out.

Those are two months that are jam-packed with school activities and extracurriculars, so keep your families’ other schedules in mind. This will help prevent you spending time and energy on an event that no one shows up to.

And don’t forget to add in your personal dates too! Family vacations, seasons of transition (like the birth of a baby, a sister getting married or a child graduating high school, etc.) should all be part of your big-picture ministry year planning.

After you set your goals and consider the lives of your families and volunteers, create calendar events that help you accomplish those goals (you can use Deeper KidMin’s Ministry Goal Setting Guide to help).

Narrow down the details. 

Now that you have the big picture planned, work backward to fill in the details. How can you set yourself up for success with each major event on your calendar? Add ministry planning checkpoints or due dates in your calendar for each major event. For example, if VBS happens the first week of June, maybe you purchase final supplies/organize final donations the last week of May, open registration 8 weeks before in April, start promoting your VBS in March, communicate with your team in February, and finalize VBS curriculum by the end of January.

Working backward from your event date allows you to spread out the tasks and make sure that nothing gets put off until the last minute or forgotten. Ministry planning checkpoints also help you create opportunities to invite volunteers to use their gifting to amplify the event.

The details allow you to get a little creative too! Consider areas or events where you can innovate and try something new. Maybe instead of a traditional Christmas program, you create a family-friendly interactive event or nativity experience. Instead of a summer-long Bible study, you host a Bible adventure camp with hands-on activities. Think outside the box with your themes, outreach efforts, and even the way you communicate with families.

Another element of narrowing down the details includes having the teams in place to help you pull off your events and week-to-week ministry rhythms. Children’s ministry doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The more the church as a whole supports your ministry, the more effective it will be. Look for ways to involve the congregation by casting vision in the main service as often as possible, partnering with other ministries for big events, and regularly sharing the wins from your ministry.

Evaluate your plan and effectiveness. 

When you’re done, look at your calendar year visually. Is there one month that has lots of events? Did you plan 3 ministry events for your preschool families in April, but nothing else until October? Make sure your calendar is balanced throughout the year in the number of events for each intended audience and the volunteers needed to support the events.

Each event on the calendar must help meet a specific goal and have a specific purpose. Can you identify how each event on your calendar helps you meet your specific goals for the year and your vision for the ministry?

Evaluate each specific event too. Ask questions of your families and volunteers to gather feedback about the event. And take notes on how you planned, promoted, and prepared for an event so it’s even easier next year. Write down any notes or changes you want to make for next time You could even schedule an email to send yourself the notes when it’s time to start planning the event for next year! 

Flexibility in the Planning

Regardless of how much we plan, ministry is dynamic, and unexpected things will arise. A well-planned calendar gives you the flexibility to pivot when needed without feeling overwhelmed. That’s why we always plan in pencil—so we can adjust as God leads!

Planning your children’s ministry calendar doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By focusing on the big picture first, narrowing down the details, and taking time to evaluate your calendar, you can create a ministry year that is intentional, impactful, and sustainable for you, your families, and your team. As you plan, trust that God will guide your steps. And know that each event, lesson, and relationship built is planting seeds of faith that will last a lifetime.

Want resources that will walk you through these critical steps for planning your ministry year? Check out the KidMin Planning Bundle from Deeper KidMin, complete with a goal-setting guide, feedback questions, calendar planning checklist, and more!

LESSON AT A GLANCE: Holy Week

WONDER TRUTH: Jesus Loves Us and Gave His Life for Us

SCRIPTURE: John 12-13; 19

GOD’S BIG STORY: After God’s people waited many years for Him to rescue them from sin, Jesus shows God’s great love by dying on the cross. His death brings life.

WORD OF WONDER: I will spend time thinking about everything you have done. I will consider all your mighty acts. —Psalm 77:12 (NIrV)

CURIOSITY (15 MINS) | Large Group or Small Group

An object lesson, experiment, or activity that sparks curiosity, encourages exploration, and gets kids thinking about the wonder of God.

• Welcome Question: What does your family do for Easter??
• Curiosity Questions
• STEM Experiment: Amazing Pencil 
• Declaring God’s Wonder

BELIEF (25-35 MINS) | Large Group

A deep and interactive dive into Scripture that guides kids into knowing God more deeply, exploring His big story in the lesson of Ezekiel and the Dry Bones, and marveling at His wonder.

• Prayer of Invitation
• God’s Big Story: Hear It, Watch It, Experience It!
• Connecting the Wonder Truth
• In Awe of God’s Wonder
• Word of Wonder: Psalm 77:12

FAITH (15 MINS) | Small Group

An intentional conversation that helps kids see the wonder of God’s story and how it connects to their own, emboldening their faith and fostering a deeper understanding of their place in God’s kingdom.

• Word of Wonder Activity
• Discussion Questions for Younger and Older Kids
• Small Group Prayer Time

IDENTITY (10 MINS) | Large Group or Small Group

An interactive worship response activity that creates space for God to remind kids of these core truths: I am known, I am loved, I am led, and my life can tell of God’s wonder.

• Responding in Worship: Wonder Truth Art
• Blessing Your Kids

INVITATION FOR LEADERS

We invite you to pause, listen, and shift your gaze toward the Father … 

Last year I conducted an experiment.

I wish I hadn’t.

As kids tumbled into our children’s ministry one Sunday morning, I asked them why they liked Easter.

Their answers ranged from candy to new shoes to candy to visiting cousins to egg hunts to candy. Guess who didn’t come up? Jesus.

Like you, we talk a lot about Jesus. He’s front and center, week after week. It’s our mission for kids to know, love, and follow Him. We want how kids feel about themselves and their world to be shaped by a deep awareness that Jesus loves them so dearly He literally died for them.

That’s a message we share often—especially at Easter.

Yet, somehow, the reality of Jesus’ love and sacrifice doesn’t always sink beneath the surface, deep into kids’ hearts and minds. And what’s true for our kids is often true for us too.

So here’s a challenge: As you prepare for this lesson, read John 12, 13, and 19. But don’t just skim the words—pause often to let them speak to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to let those words change you. Ask the Spirit to cement in you this truth: Jesus loves you. He loves you right now, and He’ll love you for eternity.

Make this Easter the one you see clearly: as a love story.

DID YOU KNOW? FOUNDATION BUILDING BLOCKS: Holy Week

WHO?

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of the province of Judea. He presided over Jesus’ trial, which involved discussion with the chief priests, who were members of the Jewish ruling council, or Sanhedrin. Pilate ultimately authorized Jesus’ crucifixion, albeit reluctantly. 

WHAT?

In the week leading up to His death, Jesus was anointed by Mary in Bethany and welcomed to Jerusalem as king. He predicted His death and washed His disciples’ feet. He was betrayed by Judas, tried by Pilate, and crucified at Golgotha.

WHERE?

The events of Holy Week took place in and around Jerusalem. Bethany was about two miles east of Jerusalem. Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, was located outside the city gate of Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:12) somewhere near the city (John 19:20). The exact location is debated.

WHEN?

Jesus was crucified during the week of the Jewish Passover Feast while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea (approximately AD 26–36). The exact date is debated, but biblical scholars often estimate Jesus’ death to be between AD 30–33.

CONNECTING TO GOD’S BIG STORY

Holy Week led up to the climactic moment of God’s big story. The death of Jesus made way for the defeat of death, the forgiveness of sins, and life forever with God in a kingdom that will never end.

DIVE IN: Holy Week

Get the FREE lesson here! Plus, see the full series overview with a glimpse inside the event guide.

Did you like this lesson from Wonder Ink? Check out another one here!

Wonder Ink

Faith begins with wonder

With ready-to-go lessons, Wonder Ink is a customizable digital curriculum and toolkit for creatively engaging kids and families in God’s Word—connecting the classroom on Sunday to their homes during the week.

Learn more

Our church’s midweek program was looking for volunteers and, since I’m all for helping kids meet Jesus, I signed up. I was given a job in the shallow end of the pool: I became a Bible Verse Listener.

In our program kids could earn “bucks” to spend at our store: a tabletop of Christian books, Bibles, and Jesus-themed toys. One way to earn bucks was for kids to memorize and recite Bible verses … and that’s where I came in.

It worked like this: kids lined up in front of a Bible Verse Listener and were expected to recite Bible verses word for word, perfectly. One mistake, one pause of more than two seconds, and it was all over.

No bucks for those kids.

However, I didn’t see the point of demanding perfection, so I initiated a new rule in my corner of the listening lineup: kids could paraphrase verses so long as they could also explain what those verses meant. And if kids could apply a Bible verse to their lives, I’d toss in a bonus buck or two.

You’d think I’d introduced animal sacrifices to the program.

The program leader pulled me aside to inform me that since kids were hiding God’s Word in their hearts, they should hide the precise language of Scripture. I said our kids were hiding God’s Word in their short-term memories; five minutes after reciting verses kids couldn’t recall the Bible verses.

And we were both right … though I’m the only one who got fired.

Hiding God’s Word in Kids’ Heart

If you value your kids knowing Scripture, you can do worse than encouraging memorization. There’s value there—if kids know what passages mean. And if kids come to Scripture seeking transformation as well as retention.

Pharisees were champion memorizers, and Satan himself could beat most of us in a game of Bible Trivia. Simply parroting words does little to bring about spiritual growth.

But when you connect kids with passages they find meaningful, the Holy Spirit can use that to shape their hearts and minds—that’s pure gold.

Following is a handful of short (easy to memorize!) Bible verses I love seeing kids encounter. Why? Because these verses help kids discover who God is, who Jesus is, and who they are in Him. They help kids know how to grow closer to God and to entrust themselves to Him.    

How you integrate these passages into your teaching is up to you—but please consider making it happen.

One approach is to occasionally reserve a few minutes at the end of a lesson to share one of these passages. Read it aloud (even better: recite it from memory!) and briefly explain why it’s important to you. Shining a spotlight on passages in that context will make them important to your kids, too.

Oh, and there’s this: If you should happen to stumble over a word or two while reciting a Bible verse, come see me. I’ll have a buck for you anyway.

Bible Verses for Kids

• God is love. (1 John 4:8b)
  
• See what amazing love the Father has given us! Because of it, we are called children of God. And that’s what we really are! (1 John 3:1a)
  
• God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. (John 3:16)
  
• Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay. You are the potter. Your hands made all of us. (Isaiah 64:8)
  
• The Lord is my shepherd. He gives me everything I need. (Psalm 23:1)
  
• But God is faithful and fair. If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure. (1 John 1:9)
  
• Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
  
• When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done. (Romans 6:23)
  
• Look to the Lord and to his strength. Always look to him. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
  
• Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. (Philippians 4:6)
  
• Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful! (Philippians 4:4)
  
• So obey God. Stand up to the devil. He will run away from you. (James 4:7)
  
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
  
• Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me. (Psalm 119:105)
  
• In peace I will lie down and sleep. Lord, you alone keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8)
  
• The Lord is my light, and he saves me. Why should I fear anyone? The Lord is my place of safety. Why should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize

Memorized verses are the rails the Spirit’s instructions run on. How much track have we laid? Download this guide on Short Bible Verses. With 1 verse from every book, kids will learn to hide God’s Word in their hearts!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize

Memorized verses are the rails the Spirit’s instructions run on. How much track have we laid? Download this guide on Short Bible Verses. With 1 verse from every book, kids will learn to hide God’s Word in their hearts!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize

Memorized verses are the rails the Spirit’s instructions run on. How much track have we laid? Download this guide on Short Bible Verses. With 1 verse from every book, kids will learn to hide God’s Word in their hearts!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Want more articles like this one?

• 13 Creative Bible Verse Memory Games and Activities for Kids
• 66 short Bible verses perfect for kids to memorize (1 from every book!)
• 30 Powerful and Unusual Bible Verses about Children
• 13+ Children’s Ministry Bible Games that Spark Joy
• How to Help Kids Connect with the Bible Outside of Church
• Simple Ways for Kids to Learn the Books of the Bible
• 52 FREE Bible Coloring Pages for Kids from Popular Stories
• Unexpected Ways to Help Kids See the Bible Is Real
• Why Kids Need to Know the Old Testament
• Scripture Connection: Does It Really Matter?

Mikal Keefer has taught Sunday school for nearly 50 years and still loves it.  

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. And may He bring you peace.

When I was asked to be a part of leading our church plant, I was both ecstatic and apprehensive. While building something from the ground up wasn’t new to me, I questioned if I was up for the task. How could I do it all? Was my desire to teach children and lead them towards Jesus enough?

Maybe you are in that same place. Uncertain of your qualifications or weary of the amount of work you have ahead of you. Let me tell you: God is right there with you, and any doubts you have, you can tell Him.

I didn’t have any apprehension in saying yes, but I did have uncertainty about how this would look. Where do I even start? Beginning new ministries and programs within a church has more differences from church planting than I originally realized. However, I had a foundation for the essentials of vision, safety, and planning from my ministry experiences. What I needed to do was take time to reflect, pray, dream, and write.

A word of caution: it is so easy to jump into the details and logistics. Those details are important but the timing of when you prioritize them is even more important. You don’t want to be choosing paint colors and branding (while that is SUPER FUN!) before you have a vision and mission for your church and children’s ministry.

The order of how you do things is important.

Where should you begin when leading in a church plant?

PRAYER

I think it goes without saying but prayer. We always need to remember to invite God into our thoughts and decisions. We know that the Holy Spirit can guide us, but we need to be attuned to the Spirit. Starting with prayer and continuing to pray throughout the entire process is necessary and the most helpful.

So, pause for a moment and reflect: What am I noticing about this process right now? Where am I sensing God’s Spirit moving? Where do I feel overwhelmed? What is making me feel uncertain?

Take those questions to God and ask for wisdom as you move forward. Revisit these questions throughout your planning and stay attuned to God’s Spirit.

REFLECT and ASSESS

No matter where you are at in the process, pausing to reflect and assess is critical to movement. Just as you paused in reading this article, make sure to prioritize times of reflection. What I found easiest was setting a recurring time on my calendar that I would pause and assess what was happening.

This is helpful when so many pieces of planning are coming together at once that you need to plan to take a step back and look at what is happening. Invite others into the assessment process and reflect together. When you have trusted people around you, this step isn’t scary. They are with you through it all!

VISION, MISSION, and VALUES

It is time to start your dream phase and what better way to start than with your vision or mission statement. If your church plant doesn’t already have a vision or mission statement that is short, clear and understandable, now is the perfect time to pray and create! Your mission statement needs to be clear and broad. For many, the greatest commandment from Jesus becomes the right vision statement: Love God. Love Others.

Here is the question you need to answer: Why do you have a ministry with children? The answer to this question will be your big picture for ministry and will be the foundation for which you build your church’s children’s ministry?

After you have established your vision, you move into naming your context. Where is your church located? Who is around you? What is unique about your ministry context? The answers to these questions help you know who you are serving and what you need to consider as you create the environment of your children’s ministry.

Now you get to focus on your values or goals. These values need to flow from the understanding of your context and from the umbrella of your vision statement. What are the goals or values of your ministry? What do you hope to cultivate within the children in your ministry?

Long-Term and Vision-Based Values

These values are ones that are long-term and based on vision. Remember that how you meet a goal or support a value can change over time, but the value itself does not.

For instance, at my church, one of our values is Formation: Becoming like Jesus. In our church, this value is upheld through our focus on spiritual practices. We have this same value in our children’s ministry: We desire to help kids grow to become more like Jesus through knowing God’s Word, seeing their place in God’s story, and experiencing who God is.

We teach spiritual practices that are crafted with our kids in mind.

HOW and WHAT KIDS LEARN

This is where my Type-A children’s ministry leaders are going to thrive! You are now getting to some of the details of starting a children’s ministry. You know your context and you have your vision and values. Now, you must think about how you want to shape a child’s faith as you lead in your church plant. How do you want to shape a child’s faith?

You need to answer this question before you jump into what they will learn. You need to think about the how. And then you get to ask: What are the ways that you want to help your kids learn? What different ways of learning do you need to express in your ministry to help kids grow in their faith?

I realized early-on that I needed to make sure that I provided a variety of ways to encounter the Bible, from reading it, to seeing and experiencing it in action, to discussing it. This meant that I had some criteria for my planning and what I was looking for in teaching resources and curriculum.

SAFETY, VOLUNTEERS, and STUFF

One of the largest tasks for leading a ministry in a church plant is establishing a safe environment and having a process for onboarding and approving volunteers for serving.

These two go hand-in-hand since one of most important ways to create a safe environment is through a protection screening for volunteers. Having an application for serving, reference check, policy acknowledgement, interview, and background check are critical steps to protecting your kids AND volunteers. Make sure to check the requirements of your state as well since certain states require all volunteers to be mandated reporters. There is additional training and certification if this is the case in your state.

Check-In

Another component to establishing a safe environment is managing a check-in system. How will you ensure that when the children in your ministry are with you that they return to the proper family when service is over? Depending on how you set up your ministry, whether children are dropped off with you at the beginning of service or if they will be dismissed at a certain point in the service, you need to have a plan for safely taking kids to and from your gathering space.

TIP: Planning Center offers their check-in software for free if you are a children’s ministry under a certain size. Once you grow, they are super affordable too!

Finally, you get to do some of the details that you were probably thinking about at the beginning of this article: what stuff do I need to buy or find for our children’s ministry? I hate to break it to you, but this is a hard question to answer universally. That is because only YOU know your context.

For my context, we did not have any infant-age 2 kids when we planted. That meant that while I did not need an evacuation crib (one on wheels), changing table, or rocking chair, there was a strong possibility that I would need them in the future. Make a list of items that you know you will need day one to establish a safe environment.

The Children’s Ministry Handbook is a great FREE resource that will help you think through many of these details. This could help you immensely as you lead in your church plant.

You’ve got this! Remember, you don’t do this alone. God is with you, and the children’s ministry community is here with you too.

I leave you with this blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. And may He bring you peace.

With a combined 200 years of serving the Church, David C Cook (founded 1875) and Group Publishing (founded 1974), provide tested and trusted resources for churches just like yours. With children’s curriculum created for Sunday school, children’s church, and midweek programs, you can find exactly what you need to serve the children in your ministry.

As you explore the options below, be sure to think about the following:

• What is your context?
• Is there a particular format you prefer?
• What do you want your children to leave your ministry knowing?
• Are you highlighting the things that are most important to your ministry?
• What is your mission and how does the curriculum align?
• Is the curriculum practical for you to use?
• Can it serve your ministry in multiple areas?
• Plus, check out this comprehensive article and download to help you choose the right curriculum for your ministry.

Children’s Church Curriculums for Small Churches

Wonder Ink

Inspire kids to discover their identity in God’s Big Story.

Created by ministry practitioners and discipleship thought leaders, Wonder Ink curriculum for kids is a trusted solution for your children’s church or Sunday school program. It helps the local church inspire children in faith, walk alongside parents at home, and equip volunteers for ministry.

With a focus on God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, children discover who God is and who they are in Him.

Plus, Wonder Ink’s theological guideposts ensure every lesson points children to God. These guideposts focus on God’s Big Story, the gospel of Jesus, real people of Scripture (not characters or superheroes), biblical language in the context of Scripture, and kids’ identity as image bearers.

In the world today, this curriculum reminds children of who they were created to be—known, loved, and led by their Creator in heaven.

• 2 Age Levels: Early Childhood (Pre-K & K with Toddler Track) and Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Bible-in-Life

Connect everyday moments to biblical wisdom.

Connect everyday situations to God’s Word with Bible-in-Life. The lessons help the kids in your ministry see God’s truth all around them as you disciple this generation with lifelong faith.

Bible-in-Life (also available for youth and adults) helps kids form faith and express their faith in everyday life moments. With a variety of age-appropriate activities to support Bible learning, there are built-in options for multiple learning styles and class sizes.

With the flexible materials, you can build a ministry program that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

• 8 Age Levels: Toddler – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddler – Early Elementary 2 Years, Elementary – High School 3 Years, Adult Comprehensive Bible Study 6 Years, Adult Understanding the Bible 8 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Simply Loved

A Sunday school curriculum with focus, clarity, and permission to exhale.

With Simply Loved, you get a simpler approach to Sunday school where kids experience God’s greatest gift.

Sundays can be simple and meaningful as you take children on a journey through the Bible with Simply Loved. No matter a child’s age, Bible Memory Buddies help make learning stick.

Some of your best buddies from Group VBS are part of Sunday school!

It’s a proven brainy thing that kids are conditioned to remember fun facts and crazy connections to characters they know and love.

So, when kids meet Savanna the giraffe, they remember that just like Savanna’s long neck, all God’s people should understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is. Every week your Bible Buddy makes an unforgettable Bible point. Plus, a new Bible Memory Buddy is featured every month in Simply Loved.

• 3 Age Levels: Pre-K & K – Upper Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

HeartShaper

Instilling God’s Word in every child’s heart.

Help kids discover God through His Word with HeartShaper. With Special Needs Friendly activities, inclusive ministry is central as you disciple every child in God’s kingdom work.

HeartShaper provides teacher-friendly lessons to reach the heart of every child. From toddler years through grade six, HeartShaper takes kids on a journey through the Bible five times to discover God’s story and how they fit into it. Plus, this children’s curriculum makes it easy to include every child in each step of the lesson—no matter their ability.

With HeartShaper’s well-crafted program, training tools, and free extras, your team is equipped to teach Bible skills and help kids grow in their walk with God.

• 6 Age Levels: Toddlers – Preteen
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddlers & 2s 1 Year, Preschool – PreTeen 2 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Dig In

Dig deep into the Bible and equip kids with a solid faith foundation.

With Dig In Sunday school and children’s church, you get flexible options to fit any ministry with a simple online lesson builder.

Dig In was designed with your ministry in mind. Its creative, adaptable, time-saving approach can support both your Sunday school and children’s church times. The easy-to-use online lesson builder lets you build exactly what you need for each portion of your children’s ministry.

• 4 Age Levels: Preschool – Elementary
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: 5 one-year programs to choose from
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Gospel Light

Point kids to Jesus in every Bible lesson.

Point kids to Jesus and build strong relationships with this children’s curriculum. Emphasize evangelism and discipleship as you teach children in their formative years.

Each Bible lesson connects to Jesus and has a big impact on the faith formation of kids and volunteers alike! From Baby Beginnings through Grade 6, Gospel Light guides children to explore the Bible five times.

Through an engaging approach to Bible storytelling and relationships, you can build a children’s ministry that inspires volunteers to share the gospel. Plus, guide kids to a deep understanding of Jesus and what a relationship with Him offers.

• 6 Age Levels: Nursery – Preteen
• Format: Classroom or Large Group/Small Group
• Scope & Sequence: Nursery – Pre-K/K & Preteen 2 Years, Elementary 4 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Hands-On Bible Curriculum

Hands-on learning for a faith that sticks!

Teach as Jesus taught using creative objects illustrating eternal truths. Jesus was the master at using creative objects to connect eternal truths to everyday life—and now you can master it too!

With Hands-On Bible Curriculum, kids experience the same powerful connections between Scripture and everyday life by engaging all five of their senses. Bring the Bible alive with these awesome lessons and activities.

• 6 Age Levels: Toddler – Grade 6
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 2 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Echoes

Celebrate African American faith and cultural heritage.

Share God’s resounding Word and celebrate black history and faith with Echoes. Relatable lessons and teacher-friendly options help you disciple children through adults. Plus, connect all ages thematically with the Sunday School Superintendent Manual!

Echoes provides teacher-friendly options, helping today’s generations come to know God’s Word. Motivate students to study more and more with inspiring, relevant, and soul-searching materials. Plus, get options for every age level to develop Bible knowledge and foster lifelong spiritual growth—all while making meaningful connections to the African American experience.

With flexible materials, you can build a children’s ministry that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

• 8 Age Levels: Toddler – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: Toddler – Early Elementary 2 Years, Elementary – High School 3 Years, Adult Comprehensive Bible Study 6 Years, Adult Understanding the Bible 8 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

FaithWeaver Now

Create a foundation of faith that lasts a lifetime.

FaithWeaver Now weaves together fundamental elements of children’s ministry to create lasting faith: explore the Bible every 3 years, engage kids through proven, Jesus-style methods, and empower families by synchronizing all age levels.

FaithWeaver Now is a quarterly, age-graded curriculum for infants through adults, where every age level studies the same Bible passage at the same time. The 3-year scope and sequence covers the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Each quarter goes through 13 sequential Bible events, so families get a snapshot of the Bible timeline.

• 10 Age Levels: Infant – Adult
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 3 Years
• Try for Free
• Learn More

Be Bold

Fearless Preteen Curriculum

With Be Bold, preteens explore the Bible and dive into the faith questions on their minds. Help preteens answer their own questions. Questions about God. About themselves. About where they fit in the world.

Give preteens exactly what they need—validation of their faith questions, and a place to connect as they explore those questions together. And be guided every step of the way as you become their conversation guide … and fellow explorer.

Tackle what preteens want to know and need to know and help them grow in their relationship with God.

• 1 Age Level: Preteen
• Format: Classroom
• Scope & Sequence: 6 Quarters (1.5 years)
• Try for Free
• Learn More

As you research and look for a children’s church curriculum for your ministry, remember that large or small, you are doing kingdom work, and every life is valued beyond measure.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 NIV

Keep up the good work as you point kids to Jesus.

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download Your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

But it’s now possible with the Connected Easter series and Around the Table: A Taste of Passover event bundle.

For $99 (now $49.50), leaders have access to 5 weeks of fully resourced lessons from the Wonder Ink series, Connected Easter, that includes activities for families to do together at home during the week. Plus, you get a fully resourced guide for leading a Passover Seder, including promotional materials and welcome video.

Celebrate Jesus this Easter with a “taste” of a Jewish Seder meal, looking to our Savior!

Connected Easter: What’s the Story?

Easter Children’s Ministry Lessons

This 5-part series helps toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary kids walk through what it looks like for God to show up, promise His presence, and make the way where there was none. They will connect the long journey of God’s people from slavery to freedom, from Moses and the Israelites in Egypt to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus is alive, and because of Him we can transition from slavery to freedom, from death to life—now those are connections worth celebrating!

Death could not keep Jesus in the ground. He is too powerful!

• Lesson 1 is about the burning bush (Exodus 3) and how God hears and see His people.
• Lesson 2 shares the story of the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 13-15) and how God rescues His people.
• Lesson 3 features the story of holy week (John 12-13; 19) and how Jesus loves us and gave His life for us.
• Lesson 4 celebrates the resurrection (John 20) as kids celebrate that Jesus lives!
• Lesson 5 covers the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) and how Jesus surprises us.

What’s Included in the Connected Easter Lesson Materials?

Each Wonder Ink lesson is divided into 4 sections: Curiosity, Belief, Faith, and Identity.

Curiosity

The curiosity lesson step is a multi-sensory object lesson, STEM experiment, or group activity that sparks curiosity, encourages exploration, and gets kids thinking about the wonder of God.

Belief

The belief lesson step is a deep and interactive dive into Scripture that guides kids into knowing God more deeply, exploring His Big Story, and marveling at His wonder.

Faith

The faith lesson step is an intentional conversation that helps kids see the wonder of God’s Story and how it connects to their own, emboldening their faith, and fostering a deeper understanding of their place in God’s kingdom.

Identity

The identity lesson step is an interactive response activity that ushers kids into worship and creates space for Him to remind them of these core truths: I am known by God, I am loved by Jesus, I am led by the Holy Spirit, and my life can tell of God’s wonder.

Additional List of Lesson Resources

• Welcome and Introduction
• Series Overview
• 5 lessons (Toddler; Early Childhood; Elementary)
• Elementary Bible Story Videos
• Early Childhood Bible Story Videos
• Wonder@Home Bible Story Videos
• Volunteer prep resources
• Social media images
• Slides
• Volunteer communication templates
• Family communication templates
• Worship playlists

Around the Table: A Taste of Passover Family Event

Easter Children’s Ministry Event

The Around the Table event is an event that aligns with the Wonder Ink Connected Easter lesson series.

Around the Table is a Seder Meal event that equips churches to lead families easily through an immersive retelling of the Passover story. This “taste” of Passover event creates a meaningful experience for the families in your ministry to connect the dots from the Exodus to Jesus’ resurrection. It draws on many of the customs practiced in traditional Jewish Seder meals, which utilize specific food items as symbols to help tell the story of redemption, and points throughout to Jesus, the Lamb of God whose sacrifice on the cross brings us freedom from sin!

In Hebrew, the word Seder (SAY-der) means “order.” A Passover Seder is a special meal in which the components and structure recall the Exodus—when God freed His people from slavery in Egypt. As Christians, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, we are invited to the Passover Seder table as a way of remembering God’s faithfulness throughout history and celebrating Jesus—the Lamb of God—whose death and resurrection make it possible for us to be part of God’s family now and forever.

The event kit is digital and customizable, and it includes everything you need to host the event.

Additional List of Event Resources

• Editable and Downloadable Event Guide
• Promotional Materials
• Traditional Passover Seder Plate Elements and Explanations
• Seder Plate Template
• Shopping List
• Setting the Table
• Passover Storytelling
• Decorating Ideas
• Communication Templates

An Easter Celebration You Won’t Forget

Remembering what Jesus did for us fills us with emotion and gratitude. His sacrifice leaves us in awe and His resurrection gives us hope for an eternity with Him. We get to celebrate that we have new life in Jesus! Check out Connected Easter, available in your Wonder Ink subscription, or sold separately.

Let’s celebrate our risen Savior!

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages

Need coloring pages for your family or the families in your ministry? We’ve got you covered in our new resource download from Ministry Spark, The Easter Storybook Coloring Pages.

Download your coloring pages

Free Activity

I could talk all day about children’s ministry curriculum. It’s such an important topic in children’s ministry. Now, is there a perfect curriculum? There is no perfect curriculum, and every curriculum is not made for your specific people and your specific kids and volunteers in your church setting. So, it is going to take some editing and customization to fit your church. But if you start with the right bones and the right structure, it’ll release a lot of the pressure and the burden from you, and free you up to do ministry better.

No curriculum can disciple your kids. You disciple your kids because a disciple is the one who creates more disciples and invites them into that relationship with Jesus. So, the most important thing to remember is that curriculum is a tool and a framework. It is a structure that carries us while we are doing the relational work of ministry, and the right curriculum can free us up to really invest in our people and do the work of ministry. So, it is important to find the right fit for your specific church.

Curriculum allows kids to encounter and experience God, to worship and respond to Him, and it helps kids discover biblical truth. When you purchase a curriculum and adjust it to fit your text, it frees you up to do the real work of ministry. And that is pouring into your people. It really gives such a joy and freedom that allows God to work in our ministry. My personal ministry began to thrive once I chose the right curriculum.

Choosing the Right Children’s Ministry Curriculum

Know Your Destination

That’s what we want for you. We want to know where we’re going, what we want our kids to know, and where we’d like them to be spiritually.

Having that destination and clear vision in your mind is one of the most important things you can do for your church before you choose your curriculum. What are the spiritual goals you have for the kids in your ministry? What are the milestones? Ask yourself how the curriculum aligns with your church’s mission and vision. Ask what outcome you are looking for?

And most importantly, as you begin, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and help you discern as you’re choosing curriculum.

Utilize Your Team

As you go through this process, be sure to bring your team alongside you, gather research, and get feedback from people.

A year and a half ago, David C Cook did a survey for children’s ministry leaders asking all kinds of fun questions. Questions like: What do you want in a children’s ministry curriculum? How do you discover curriculum? How do you choose a curriculum? What is most important to you? What is not important to you in your curriculum? It’s a really interesting study, and we learned a lot of insights.

One of the things I thought was interesting was that the size of the church determines the various ways in which we choose and use our curriculum. What a church of 20 kids is going to need from a curriculum is different from a church that might have 500 kids.

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Curriculum Evaluation Checklist

Need help evaluating curriculum? Grab this downloadable list and follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.

Download Your Curriculum Checklist

Free Guide

Align with What’s Important

Look at the specific needs of the people in your church ask what’s important to your church.

• Who is in your church? Look at your demographics, your audience, the needs of the kids and families.
• Consider your volunteers. Where they are spiritually. Do they come from a highly “churched” background or are they new to the faith?
• Look at the mission and vision for your kids and families.

Earlier this year at CPC, we had an interactive experience where people got to go through and answer certain questions about their children’s ministry. These questions helped them discover what curriculum might be a good fit for their church. And one of the questions was, what is most important in your ministry?

As people were going through the maze, they answered most of the questions very quickly. Then when they got to this one, they would pause. It caused them to think deeply about their mission is and how it aligns with what they are teaching. So, think about that question and consider what is most important.

Think Critically

Evaluate all kinds of different curriculum lines, gather samples, and look at the scope and sequence for them. Is it random? Does it make sense? Is it balanced? Are kids getting to see a full picture of the Bible and how it’s all connected? And are they getting the gospel and Jesus?

If you possibly can, teach the sample lessons in your children’s ministry—that’s such a great way to get a good feel for a curriculum.

Don’t simply think that simply because it’s published that it is going to be biblically accurate and theologically sound. I have seen some things that just weren’t a good fit for my church’s theology or my understanding of the Bible. And so really look at the curriculum and think critically about what it’s saying and what it’s teaching, and how it’s teaching the Word of God.

God’s Word as Authority

And just remember the responsibility that we have when we teach kids the Word of God. It’s so important that we take that seriously and teach the Bible as it’s meant to be taught.

Not taking the Bible as God intended and twisting it to make it more entertaining or more fun for kids, or to make it fit what we want it to say, is not okay. We want the Bible to speak the text, to speak for itself within the context of what it was meant to say. And so, as you’re looking at the lessons, read the Bible stories in Scripture against the lesson, and look at how they’re taught and what they teach us about God. Consider the vision of the curriculum, the philosophy, and the values.

Go see it in action. If you can, visit a church that’s using the curriculum you’re evaluating (just ask their children’s pastor ahead of time). You can learn a lot quickly if you can see what their Sundays look like and talk with the volunteers and the children’s pastors and kids.

And then, most importantly before you choose a curriculum, ask yourself: does it draw kids closer to Jesus and allow them to experience Him and connect with Him? Is it discipleship-, gospel-, and Bible-centered?

Discover more on choosing and implementing children’s ministry curriculum by watching the full webinar here.

• Curriculum Feedback Survey 
  
  Want to know how families and volunteers feel about your ministry and the curriculum you use? Gather feedback from those in your ministry using this simple survey.  Download it now!
  
• Curriculum Evaluation Checklist
  
  Need help evaluating curriculum? Follow the questions to a wise curriculum choice that equips you and your teachers for life-changing children’s ministry.
  
  Grab this free checklist and evaluate curriculum like a champ!

Or undersea adventure.

Or space mission.

With more than 30 years’ experience creating Group’s vacation Bible school resources, I’ve explored a lot of VBS themes. And I’ve seen incredible changes in the way amazing leaders like you reach today’s kids. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the profound impact VBS continues to have on kids’ lives.

In recent conversations with friends in ministry, I’ve heard the question, “Is VBS still relevant in today’s world?” It’s a great question to ask! Sharp leaders should always understand the why behind every ministry moment.

When it comes to summer outreach events like VBS, the answer is an unwavering yes. In fact, VBS is more important than ever. In a world where kids feel isolated, stressed, and disconnected from meaningful relationships, VBS offers a unique opportunity to foster friendships, deepen faith, and create lasting connections that reach beyond a week-long event.

Here’s why this weeklong outreach event is a lifeline for today’s children, families, and churches.

Why VBS Matters

1. Fostering Friendships

It’s no secret that today’s children are lonelier than ever before. Studies show that kids are struggling with feelings of isolation and disconnection, often intensified by the pressures of social media, academic expectations, and the pace of life. For many kids, forming genuine friendships feels impossible. Though they’re surrounded by peers, they feel friendless.

As compassionate kidmin leaders, it breaks our hearts.

That’s where VBS comes in.

While most church programs meet for an hour once a week, VBS offers a multi-day, immersive experience that allows opportunity for authentic friend-making. From small group discussions to team-building games, VBS gives kids the chance to connect with others on a deeper level.

This summer event offers a safe space to experience true community. You may find that VBS friendships often extend beyond the summer, providing kids with lasting connections and a sense of belonging. (Check out these creative ways to foster friendships throughout your ministry!)

2. Building Church Unity through VBS

VBS isn’t just an opportunity for kids to connect with one another—it’s also a powerful tool for church members to grow closer as a body. As a seasoned children’s minister, I’ve seen VBS bridge generational and relational gaps within congregations.

Church members who might not otherwise interact with one another find themselves working side by side as they lead skits, games, or Bible adventures. The shared experience of serving together deepens connections with each other as friends of God.

It’s incredible to watch seasoned adults working alongside teenagers, mentoring them as they take on leadership roles, and seeing how new members of the church family can easily plug in and feel valued. VBS helps church members find common ground, discover new gifts and talents in one another, and work toward a shared goal—investing in the next generation.

This unity is essential to church health and growth! A church where “everybody knows your name” is magnetic. VBS creates a space where that can happen, as church members from all walks of life come together to serve and grow in faith.

3. Deeper Discipleship

VBS is one of the few opportunities in a child’s life where they experience an immersive, multi-day program. Rather than one lesson on Sunday morning, a week of summer outreach is a full experience that allows kids to dive deeper into the Bible.

That means kids connect with God in ways that stick!

This event engages kids in hands-on activities, multisensory Bible adventures, active worship songs, and relationships that ground them in friendship with Jesus.

The beauty of the multi-day experience is that it provides kids with consistency and repetition. Every day, they hear and experience God’s love in a new way. Leaders get to build on the previous day’s lessons.

It’s like laying brick upon brick to build a solid foundation in kids’ lives. The intentional time and environment to grow spiritually and emotionally is unmatched.

4. Serving Families

While many churches balk at being “childcare,” the truth is that VBS serves a critical need: the challenge of finding reliable and affordable childcare during the summer months. For working families, summer break is a time of logistical stress, trying to juggle childcare with work schedules. Your church can offer not only a fun, faith-filled program but also a solution for parents who need care for their kids.

For many families, VBS is a lifesaver, providing kids with a safe environment, giving parents peace of mind at work.

This is especially important for families who may not attend church regularly but are looking for a positive, Christ-centered space for their kids. VBS opens the doors of the church to these families, serving them practically and, most importantly, sharing Jesus’ love in a tangible way.

In a culture that often prioritizes convenience over community, VBS is a powerful reminder that the church can be a loving, caring presence for families in need. (Team Family is another great resources for serving families year-round!)

5. Sharing Jesus through VBS

VBS is clearly a powerful evangelistic tool. Many children who attend VBS come from families who aren’t deeply connected to the church. A focused summer event creates an open door for the gospel to be shared in a dynamic, engaging way. Eye-catching decorations grab kids’ attention.

Upbeat songs, Bible lessons, and stories of Jesus’ love come to life in ways that captivate children’s imaginations and hearts.

For many kids, VBS is their first introduction to Jesus. I’ve witnessed countless children make the decision to begin a friendship with Jesus during VBS, and the relationships they build during the event often continue to nurture their faith for years to come.

VBS not only helps kids grow spiritually but also invites them into the larger story of the Church.

A Lifeline for Kids, Families, and Churches

When you think of VBS, maybe your brain gets focused on the wild decorations and chaos of so many kids. Or the thought of rounding up volunteers for such an endeavor seems daunting.

 But VBS isn’t just an event—it’s a ministry that matters now more than ever. In a world where children are struggling with loneliness, disconnectedness, and anxiety, you can offer them a chance to experience genuine relationships with others, with caring Christian adults, and, most importantly, with Jesus.

VBS is more than just a program; it’s a life-changing experience. And that’s something that will always be relevant.

Want more info on the power of VBS? Don’t miss this insightful research article!

More Articles for Summer Programming

• Group’s VBS Resources
• Creative Summer Programming in Children’s Ministry
• 6 Fun Ideas for Engaging Kids in Summer
• What Happens When We Reimagine Summer Connections with Families at the Forefront?
• VB-Yes: Why Special Events Are Still Important
• VBS Alternatives: Take Back Summer for Kids’ Ministry!

Zipped To-Gather: A Summer Programming Guide

Zipped To-Gather is an outreach program that invites and encourages parents to get involved in ministry to your community. You will simply provide the easy-to-find supplies (listed in this guide), and the parents will take it from there. Check it out!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Zipped To-Gather: A Summer Programming Guide

Zipped To-Gather is an outreach program that invites and encourages parents to get involved in ministry to your community. You will simply provide the easy-to-find supplies (listed in this guide), and the parents will take it from there. Check it out!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

Zipped To-Gather: A Summer Programming Guide

Zipped To-Gather is an outreach program that invites and encourages parents to get involved in ministry to your community. You will simply provide the easy-to-find supplies (listed in this guide), and the parents will take it from there. Check it out!

Download your free guide

Free Guide

With relatable lessons and volunteer-friendly options within the curriculum, leaders can be sure to share the truth of the gospel with children, teens, and adults. And while each age level is age-appropriate, each lesson is also connected thematically to all the other age levels so that generations can grow in faith together.

In the articles below, you can discover the importance of celebrating African American faith with children.

From being made in the image of God, to understanding faith from a cultural context, children need to see themselves as God sees them. Help every child discover God’s plan for their lives and know without a doubt that He created them and loves them beyond their wildest imagination.

Why Echoes Children’s Curriculum Is Important to Today’s Church: A Parent’s Point of View

In the African American church, children need to understand their cultural history. Echoes provides this with relatable, relevant content. Read More >>

Black History and Faith: Why and How It Matters to Kids

Black children need to understand that they are part of God’s Story—made in His image. Discover why history and community matters in faith. Read More >>

Echoes​

Celebrating African American Heritage and Faith

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word while celebrating African American heritage and faith.

Learn more

How to Celebrate People of Color in Your Sunday Lessons

I want to challenge us to recognize the importance of choosing a curriculum that celebrates our biblical and cultural heritage. Read More >>

How to Make Black History Month Part of Your Children’s Ministry

Celebrate Black History Month in your kids’ ministry as a way to tell the story of God’s redemptive power!
Read More >>

30 Free Coloring Pages to Celebrate Black Faith Leaders

These stories and coloring pages will help you celebrate some amazing heroes of faith! Read More >>

Why Echoes?

• Echoes lessons are Christ-Centered and biblically sound.
• Students will learn everyday life lessons to apply in their daily lives.
• Echoes includes a Quarterly Black History Feature.
• Echoes lessons are age appropriate for ages toddler through adult.
• Lessons include Life Needs, Bible Learning, Bible Application, and Life Response.
• Teachers receive Bible resources to help when preparing and teaching the lessons.
• Lessons are available in print or as downloadable PDF’s.

More Articles About Curriculum from David C Cook

• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals

Saying thank you intentionally, often, and personally is a massive encouragement to your volunteers. And of course, you want to encourage volunteers—they’re the heartbeat of your ministry! I know that’s so true for me and my ministry too. Valentine’s Day is an especially great time to say thanks as your volunteers are showing and telling the LOVE of Jesus to the children of your congregation.

Volunteers do holy and hard work, the fruit of which spans generations.

One of the most meaningful thank you gifts, in my experience as both a volunteer and a ministry leader, is a handwritten, personal note. This is especially true of notes that highlight specific moments. A great tip for being able to remember significant moments is to keep a notes file open on your phone to capture significant immediately after you witness or experience them!

Celebrating your volunteers’ wins is a fabulous way to honor them and let them know they are seen and appreciated. No matter how else you decide to honor your volunteers this Valentine’s Day, I highly recommend writing those notes.

Without further ado, here are some more ideas to celebrate your volunteers.

Thank Volunteers this Valentine’s Day

• I love a classic candy basket. A sweet treat is an easy way to communicate “thank you!!” This article has some cute ideas to put together baskets at different budget points—including a great idea for a coffee themed basket!

• Looking for a fun way to upgrade candy bars? Check out these candy bar wrapper printables!

• This article talks about crafts kids can do. Many of these would be easy to make yourself or have kids within your ministry make and gift to your volunteers! I think the ideas revolving around God’s love are so cute.

If you are able, have kids create an element of the thank you, whether writing notes, decorating bookmarks, or making a craft. You could even stitch together a video of kids saying thank you and sharing it on your church’s social media.

Inviting the children of your ministry to participate in thanking volunteers offers them an opportunity to build into the ministry that serves them so well. It’s a win-win really!

More Ideas for Celebrating Volunteers

• If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a solid pun. Here’s some kidmin candy-related thank you notes that will do just the trick!

• Speaking of puns, here’s a customizable pretzel pack that would be a sweet addition to any gift basket.

• If you’ve recently come into a wealth of mason jars, they make an excellent vehicle for valentines’ gifts! See here for ideas.

• This article has so many intentional ideas for volunteer appreciation! Many of which are timeless and applicable year ‘round. #2 is my favorite.

• These thank you notes source relevant Bible verses to encourage any volunteer!

• If you’re looking for ways to personalize treats for your volunteers, check out these Bible-verse-inspired tags.

• This article shares 100 ideas (WHAT?!?!) for volunteer thank you gifts. Most of these prompts come with printables, so much of the work—besides dropping by the store—is done for you.

• These “we’re in good hands with you” tags could accompany some hand lotion or soap very well. If you have one locally, Trader Joes has some quality, budget-conscious options.

• These Christian Valentines cards are great options. The pizza-themed cards would be super fun to send in the mail to invite volunteers for an after-church pizza party social.

• Speaking of, here’s a variety of food-themed thank-you gifts. I love the bundt cake idea. Nothing Bundt Cakes, as well as many other bakeries, offer gluten free bundt cakes to make sure all your volunteers can have a sweet, thank you treat. Making sure that your volunteers get a sweet treat is an incredible gesture to make them feel appreciated.

Saying Thank You

Another way to communicate thanks is to equip volunteers by offering resources. In addition to a sweet treat, distributing a book and resourcing your volunteers—whether with a compelling read pertaining to children’s ministry or a book all about personal spiritual development—is a great way to care for them!

I hope you found inspiration from these ideas of ways to thank your volunteers this coming Valentine season. Whether decorating a table and having a bagel spread available for your volunteers or mailing letters and grocery store gift cards to their homes, there are so many ways to extend care and appreciation to your volunteers.

Have fun with it! Any chance we get to thank the people who help make children’s ministry possible is an opportunity to re-energize and excite volunteers. It is an opportunity to thank God for providing for His church and celebrate all the beautiful things happening within your ministry.

Even more so, I’m so thankful for the volunteers—within my context, and across the globe—who have poured their time, talent, and love into reaching children. What a gift to be part of this community!

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

Volunteer Thank You Cards

Volunteers bring energy and heart to your ministry. They give of themselves freely and intentionally—so it’s important to say THANK YOU as often as you can. Download these 5 cards and give all the warm fuzzies away!

Download your thank you cards

Free Cards

What do you want your children to know about God? And even more importantly, how do you want to help children know God? If you want a curriculum with Jesus at the center of every lesson, Gospel Light is one you must consider!

Gospel Light curriculum is built to guide children to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is through relational connection, Bible teaching, and a central focus on the gospel. It emphasizes a relational experience of evangelism and discipleship—learning who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.

Gospel Light Points Children to Jesus

Making Meaning through Play

For young children, the way they make meaning is through play. We see this when children explore the world with their imaginations. An example of this is when we see children pretend to play house.

Have you ever seen a child play church before? Seeing a child pretend to be the pastor of the congregation and teach the Word of God to those around them is holy. While they may think they are pretending, we are witnessing evangelism. We are witnessing how they may share Jesus with others.

Isn’t that beautiful? Because play is the language of young children, it is one of the primary ways to engage them in learning. Within Gospel Light, the youngest children always begin with play. This is done through art, dramatic play, games, and blocks.

And play is something that should never stop. As kids grow, the ways they play change, but the focus doesn’t vanish. Gospel Light suggests different types of play for every age group, whether that is through a small group activity, art experience, or game. There are always active options to help engage all children.

Building Blocks to Biblical Literacy

Helping children know God and who He is starts with the Bible. This is the foundation of faith that helps us to know God’s story, which reveals to us who God is and what He has done.

While focusing on the Bible is quite common in curriculum, how the Bible is utilized and taught varies. If we want to help kids see God’s story and see their place in it, they need to read and explore it. They need to experience stories over and over again.

If a child starts from the very beginning with Gospel Light, by the time she finishes sixth grade she will have explored the entire Bible four times. The scope and sequence of Gospel Light is built to help kids grow in Biblical literacy. Imagine the children in your ministry knowing the whole story of Scripture, being able to make connections between the Old and New Testaments, and learning more about Jesus. Gospel Light supports the Biblical literacy journey.

Each age level builds on how kids will explore and engage the Bible through three main steps.

• Preschool–Kindergarten: Play to Learn, Listen to Learn, Talk to Learn
  
• Grades 1–4: Get Thinking, Get God’s Word, Get Talking
  
• Grades 5–6: Discovery, Study, Application

Not only does this developmentally appropriate, three-step approach provide consistency, it makes it easy for teachers to prepare. Additionally, worship songs are included for all age levels to help your kids engage with God and reinforce what they are learning about Him.

Personal Connection to Jesus

Within every lesson of Gospel Light, whether it is through the Bible story teaching or an activity, children are introduced to Jesus. Children are shown the connections of the story they are exploring and how it relates to Jesus.

For example, when teaching on Jesus having compassion for the widow and healing her son in Luke 7, Gospel Light focuses on what this healing meant and what it shows us about Jesus.

“When Jesus raised the young man from the dead, the people thought Jesus was a prophet—a messenger from God. They praised God because He had come to help His people. While the people didn’t understand who Jesus really was, they were right about one very important thing: God HAD come to help His people. Jesus IS the one true God, and He came to help all people, including you and me.”

Every quarter of Gospel Light curriculum includes a how-to for guiding a child toward Jesus. This all starts with being living examples of God’s love to each child we encounter and showing children who Jesus is through what we say and do. Gospel Light continually supports leaders and families in how to create opportunities to talk with children about receiving Jesus Christ as Savior. What a gift!

What Is Your Next Step?

As you explore what your children need most, don’t forget the power of the gospel to changes lives. Share the gospel and guide kids to a deeper understanding of Jesus. What will you do next?

Gospel Light

Because the Gospel Changes Lives

With our easy-prep lessons, teachers can focus on building relationships with kids and pointing them to Jesus as they explore God’s Word.

Learn more

More Related to Gospel Light

• Gospel Light Children’s Curriculum: Ignite the Fire
• Evangelism with Kids: Sharing the Good News of Jesus
• Why Every Sunday School Teacher Needs to Know Henrietta Mears
• Know How to Play? You’re Absolutely Qualified to Teach
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with Gospel Light Curriculum

In contrast, what happens when the steps for a recipe are laid out in a simple, easy-to-follow way? Maybe you traded in finding random recipes on sites called things like Karen’s Kozy Kafe (yes, with all the Ks) for a tried-and-true cookbook that is beautiful and tested and ensures your meals come out with near perfection each time.

You can see it makes all the difference. Not only for one day but for days upon days and maybe even years to come.

Now imagine you could find similar ingredients to this final scenario in a children’s curriculum. Most of us want something that makes a difference in our children’s faith, not just for one day but for every day. We want something that takes the key moments in our weekly gatherings and teaches students how to build their faith on their own for years to come.

This is what Bible-in-Life can do. Bible-in-Life Children’s Curriculum is a comprehensive and flexible solution that not only imparts the knowledge of the Bible but also instills the values and biblical principles that can guide young hearts throughout their lives.

Let’s look at several ways Bible-in-Life does this.

Life Application

Step-by-Step Lessons

Preparation with Bible-in-Life is easy. Each lesson equips the leader with a devotional and commentary on the passage. Then it moves into a four-step lesson path for classroom teaching.

• Step 1: Introductory activities and discussion based on the lesson theme or passage
• Step 2: Opening the Bible and hearing the passage
• Step 3: Activities that help the students review what they just heard
• Step 4: Responding to God’s Word with prompts that help them connect the Bible to everyday life

Each lesson also offers the teacher helpful tips so that they are ready with extra options and answers to discussion questions.

Helpful In-Class Resources

Every age level has appealing student resources and colorful visuals to help enhance the lessons. These items span across all steps in creative ways and their use is clearly explained for the Teacher’s Guide and also on each resource.

There are posters, student books, Bible story pictures and figures, and more. These items are available already printed or as digital materials.

Take Home Resources

Bible-in-Life also offers at-home study and devotional resources for students. This further supports the idea of an everyday relationship with God through His Word. These resources are an excellent way to encourage daily engagement with Scripture that foster a deeper understanding and connection with God.

Among these materials are items for families to use with children as well. Families are a key part of connecting God’s Word to everyday life, and Bible-in-Life keeps equipping them in mind as well.

Age Appropriate

Bible-in-Life resources are for toddlers through high school. No child is too young to connect Biblical wisdom to their life! Each age level provides age-appropriate resources and activities so kids can understand what is being taught and how to use the Bible on their own.

Further, for older age levels, Bible-in-Life provides Real Life Downloaded. It addresses current, cutting-edge topics and avoids pat answers to move students into relying on their relationship with the God who made them. Fresh content is available for every lesson.

The Bible Matters

To some children the Bible can seem like an interesting history book or something that simply tells them what to do. Bible-in-Life intentionally shows kids how Scripture connects to life and that what it teaches us about God makes a difference.

For example, an Elementary lesson about Jesus at the wedding in Cana showcases the title “Everyday with Jesus.”

Step 1 begins with kids looking over items that represent their daily lives such as a toothbrush, a shoe, and a snack and then asks, What kinds of everyday problems have bothered you? Do you think Jesus cares about the little things you go through each day?

Step 2 covers what problems came up at the wedding in Cana, how the master needs help, and why Jesus did the miracle that day. Then the kids practice saying the Memory Verse: “The people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing” (Luke 13:17).

Step 3 invites the children to use their Bible Discoveries book to read stories about answered prayer. There is also a poster to help children consider the everyday lives of people in the Bible.

Step 4 discusses when children will talk to Jesus in the coming week and ponder how they can remember to talk with Him when problems come up. The children have a time of prayer together and then are reminded Jesus loves them before they are dismissed.

Children are sent home with student pages featuring study pages and activities along with items they made in Step 3.

Bringing It All Together

What is the result when we mix all of these things together? A life that connects everyday moments to Biblical wisdom. There is no better place to go than to God and His Word. He is the One who changes our lives no matter what age, young or old.

Isn’t that the thing we would want to pass down? When kids learn how to read God’s Word for themselves and apply it to whatever situation they are facing each day, they are led to a faith that stays with them for a lifetime.

Now that sounds like a pretty good recipe to me.

Bible In Life

Connecting everyday situations to God’s word

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can focus on engaging kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word and bring it to life.

Learn more

More Articles Featuring Bible-in-Life

• The Transformative Power of Bible-in-Life Children’s Curriculum in Today’s Church
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals
• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• How to Make Sure Your Bible Lessons Make a Difference in Kids’ Lives
• Why Life Application Matters in Your Children’s Ministry Curriculum
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with Bible-in-Life and Echoes Curriculum

Wonder Ink takes kids on a journey through curiosity, belief, faith, and identity. It helps them discover their identity as a child of God. It helps kids internalize four main truths: I am known by God, loved by Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, and I am a child of God, so my life can tell of His wonder.

Wonder Ink lessons are Bible-centered and fully customizable. The lessons encourage big questions. They leave space for kids to connect with God to build faith beyond just Sunday.

Hands-On: Building Identity in Christ

With Wonder Ink, kids don’t just hear stories from the Bible, they actively engage with God’s Word and experience God’s presence through worship response. Kids are encouraged to be curious and explore Bible truths through hands-on activities and STEM experiments. The Bible stories are taught through weekly creative Bible story videos, reading straight from the Bible, and interactive live Bible story teachings.

This curriculum uses a 3-year unified scope and sequence for all ages. This allows kids to explore major stories from the Bible with a balance of Old and New Testament stories each year. Lessons, grouped into 4–8-week series, connect kids to God’s truths.

Families with kids of all ages from toddler through preteens can connect and learn together as they experience the same Bible stories in age-appropriate ways. Wonder Ink resources parents with weekly at-home devotionals and Bible story videos for their kids. Additionally, they are encouraged as spiritual leaders in their kids’ lives and are invited to grow in their faith together.

Wonder Ink

Faith begins with wonder

With ready-to-go lessons, Wonder Ink is a customizable digital curriculum and toolkit for creatively engaging kids and families in God’s Word—connecting the classroom on Sunday to their homes during the week.

Learn more

Wonder Ink also includes special holiday series that connect the Old and New Testament to help give kids a big-picture view of the Bible as God’s big story. When kids know God’s big story, they can know their part in it and discover their identity as a child of God.

After the Waiting for Jesus Christmas series, which included stories from Isaiah’s prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment with Jesus’ birth, an 8-year-old boy exclaimed during a Christmas Eve sermon about Jesus’ birth, “Isaiah knew that was going to happen! I knew it! It’s all true—yay Jesus!” He made the connection and was able to truly celebrate and worship the long-awaited Savior.

Kids are invited into God’s big story to know Him more.

Created in God’s Image

God’s big story doesn’t start with the Fall—it starts with Creation. People were created in God’s image to reflect Him and have a relationship with Him. We have the privilege of helping kids discover their forever identity in Christ. We get to help them live with confidence as they claim their inheritance as image-bearing children of God, sharing His wonder with the world. Identity is what we believe about ourselves, our worth, and our purpose.

It’s a joy when kids discover their identity is found in God’s big story. It’s found where Jesus is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is present. And as we teach this, we leave room for their big questions, while leaving no doubt about who God is or who they are in Him.

Each week in the Wonder Ink lessons, kids declare out loud truths about who God is and who they are in Him. This is an important time in the children’s ministry service. When kids speak truths aloud repeatedly, those truths become rooted in their hearts and can grow.

As followers of Jesus, our identity is rooted in Christ. We are all beloved children of God. We are known by God and loved by Jesus, and we are invited to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Connection to God and One Another

Wonder Ink inspires a genuine connection with faith. It fosters a sense of wonder and curiosity that extends far beyond the Sunday school classroom. When children discover they are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit, their view of who they are shifts.

After a few months of using Wonder Ink curriculum, my 4-year-old daughter prayed “Holy Spirit, thank You for living inside of me. I hope You stay.”

She knows the Holy Spirit was in her and she lives out that truth each day. That truth—that she is a child of God and filled with His Spirit—guides her each day as she navigates her world and develops her worldview and identity.

She will grow up with a foundation of Christ as her Savior. She’ll have a faith that is big enough for her curiosity and questions. But she’ll have no doubt about the wonder of who God is and who she is as His child. Wonder is where it all begins. Ink is God’s truth inked upon our hearts. Faith begins with wonder.

And then there’s the task of making sure everyone feels like they belong—especially kids with specialized needs. That’s where an inclusive, thoughtful curriculum like HeartShaper comes in. HeartShaper helps create a space where God’s love reaches every heart.

When I was a children’s pastor, I saw firsthand the beauty of creating a welcoming environment for all children. One of the kids I worked with was a boy named Noah who had Down syndrome. Noah didn’t talk much, but he loved to help.

One Sunday as we were completing our HeartShaper activities, Noah quietly started handing out crayons and supplies to the other kids, his face lighting up with each smile and “thank you” he received. It was a beautiful moment. His classmates saw Noah as an important part of our group, someone who brought joy and kindness to our time together.

And Noah? He knew just how much he was loved and valued.

HeartShaper

Instilling God’s Word in every child’s heart

With our easy-to-follow lessons, teachers can focus on kids’ unique needs while helping them hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Learn more

Everyone Is Welcomed and Loved in God’s Kingdom

Then there was Sarah, a young adult with special needs who volunteered with us each Sunday. Sarah had a heart for serving and was one of the most faithful, compassionate people I’ve ever met. She would greet every child with a big smile and an encouraging word, helping them feel welcome from the moment they stepped in.

Sarah’s love for God was so evident in her patient, kind, and joyful spirit. Each week, she would joyfully give each child their Weekly Bible Reader pamphlet as their parents checked them out. She was more than a volunteer; Sarah was a powerful example of God’s love in action. Children looked up to her, and our classroom was better because of her presence.

Stories like Noah’s and Sarah’s show why inclusive ministry is so important. Our classrooms are richer when they reflect God’s Kingdom—a Kingdom where every single one of us belongs. Children with special needs aren’t just “included” in ministry—they complete it.

They bring kindness, joy, and such unique perspectives that every child benefits. And, honestly, we’re better for having them with us.

The beautiful thing about HeartShaper is that it’s built to help make this possible. It’s designed to bring every child into the experience, using a mix of sensory, hands-on activities that reach kids with different learning styles.

Here are a few quick tips drawn from HeartShaper’s flexible approach to help make every child feel valued and involved:

1. Engage the Senses:
   Try to make each lesson hands on. Use sensory elements that help kids interact with the story. For example, if you’re teaching about Jesus by the sea, you might use sand or water. Or bring in soft fabrics for moments of comfort and rest. Simple sensory tools can make God’s Word come alive, especially for kids who connect more through touch or sound.
   
2. Set Consistent Routines:
   Routines help children with specialized needs feel secure and engaged. HeartShaper encourages routines, like starting each class with a prayer, singing a familiar song, or repeating phrases such as, “God loves you.” These repeated phrases and actions help all kids remember God’s truth in a way that sticks, while also helping them feel secure and included.
   
3. Encourage Connection:
   Group activities, even simple ones, allow children to connect with each other. HeartShaper includes activities that get children working together, whether it’s building something or acting out a story. And these moments help build bonds between kids of different abilities. Working together, they discover each other’s strengths and learn to appreciate what everyone brings to the table.
   
4. Focus on God’s Love for Each Child:
   At the end of the day, kids need to know that they are deeply loved by God. HeartShaper helps reinforce this by giving you ways to affirm each child’s identity as beloved children of God. Every story, activity, and prayer points back to this truth: God made you, God loves you, and you matter.

Inclusion in Ministry

Noah and Sarah are just two of the many people who are teaching me about the beauty of inclusion in ministry. HeartShaper isn’t just another curriculum—it’s a tool that helps you shape young hearts to know God’s love and to see each other as He does.

It’s a curriculum that embraces every child’s worth and reminds them that they each have a place in God’s family. When we include every child, we’re getting a glimpse of God’s Kingdom—a place where all His children are learning, growing, and showing God’s love to one another.

In children’s ministry, we’re blessed with the chance to shape young hearts and show each child that they are a cherished part of God’s family. When we show up fully, with open hearts and arms, God works through us to instill His Word into each child—and that’s something that will last for a lifetime.

Discover More about HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum

• A Heartfelt Approach to Inclusivity: HeartShaper Children’s Curriculum
• How to Make Your Bible Lessons More Inclusive for All Abilities
• Inclusion in Children’s Ministry: The Importance of Welcoming Kids of All Abilities
• How to Lead Hybrid Sunday School with HeartShaper Curriculum
• The Top Children’s Curriculum from David C Cook
• Why Choose Digital Curriculum from David C Cook?
• Why Your Children’s Curriculum Needs the Gospel, Not Morals
• Visit our website for a free sample!